the body politic

noun phrase

formal
: all the people in a particular country considered as a single group
The article examines the language politicians use to appeal to the body politic.

Examples of the body politic in a Sentence

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In the body politic, this anxiety can work similarly—pushing people to turn inward. — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2026 Since then, the political space in Iran has narrowed, as the hard-liners have eviscerated the left wing of the body politic. — Eliot A. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2015 The Lost Cause monuments are the still-visible presentation of this dis-ease of injured and ill-earned power in the body politic. — Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 The government ought to regard the existence of a tax preparation industry for standard returns as a parasite on the body politic. — Binyamin Appelbaum, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the body politic

Rhymes for the body politic

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the boards
the body politic
the bomb
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Cite this Entry

“The body politic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20body%20politic. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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