offensive. For example, people no longer use words such as CRIPPLED to describe someone who is unable to walk because of an illness. Instead, you might use DISABLED or PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED. You can also say that someone 'has a DISABILITY'. Although it is still acceptable to say that someone is DEAF, some people now use HEARING IMPAIRED instead. Some people think that this practice has become too extreme, and they often make jokes about it, for example by saying that someone who is short is VERTICALLY CHALLENGED. Political correctness has had an effect on everyday language too, particularly language used for describing jobs that were typically done in the past by men. These days, it is more common, for example, to refer to the person who is in charge of a committee as the CHAIRPERSON or simply 'the Chair' rather than call them a CHAIRMAN. Similarly, a FIREMAN is now often referred to as a FIREFIGHTER and a woman who acts is often called an actor rather than an actress.
politically incorrect adj language, behaviour, or attitudes that are politically incorrect might offend or insult someone: politically incorrect jokes
po_litical ma'chine n AmE usually derog the way in which a politician, especially a MAYOR or GOVERNOR, runs his office so that he is in control of everything that happens
po,litical 'party n a group of people with similar political ideas who try to gain power in a country: Which of the main political parties is most likely to win the election?
po_litical 'prisoner n a person who is put in prison because they oppose the government of a country, or because the government does not agree with their ideas
po_litical 'science n [U] the scientific study of politics and government —political scientist n
pol·i·ti·cian /,pɒləˈtɪʃənl,pɑː-/ n 1 a person whose business is politics, especially one who has been elected to a parliament or to a position in government. Politicians are often mentioned in jokes as being people you cannot trust. 2 someone who is skilled at dealing with people in a way that is advantageous to himself or herself or at using a system to his or her own advantage: You need to be a bit of a politician to succeed in this company.
po·lit·i·cize also -cise BrE /pə'litšsarz/ v [T] often derog 1 to give a political character to 2 to cause to develop an interest in, and understanding of politics ∵—-cization /pə·litšsər'zeifən‖-sə-/ n [U] opposition to the politicization of the civil service
pol·i·tick·ing /'polɪtɪkɪŋ/ˈpɑː-/ n [U] usually derog taking part in political activity or talk, especially for personal advantage
polit-i-co /pəˈlɪtɪkəʊ/ n pl. -cos or -coes usually derog a politician or other person who is active in politics: politics and party hacks, trying to get into comfortable jobs in the government
pol·i·tics /'polɪtɪks/ˈpɑːr-/ n 1 [U+sing./pl.·v] political affairs, especially considered as a profession and/or as a means of winning and keeping governmental control: Politics has/have never interested me. | She wants to go into politics. (=become a politician) | local politics | I was active in student politics when I was at college. 2 [U] the art or science of government: Tom is studying politics at university. 3 [P] political opinions; the political ideas or party that one favours: What are her politics? 4 [U] activity within a particular group or organization by which some members of the group try to gain an advantage over others: Try not to get involved in office politics. | sexual politics
pol·i·ty /'polɪtiːl'pɑːr-/ n [C;U] fml (a particular form of) political or governmental organization
pol·ka /'polkə, 'pəulkəl'pəul-/ n (a piece of music for) a very quick simple dance for people dancing in pairs. In the US, the polka is seen as rather old-fashioned and amusing.
'polka dot n [usually pl.] any of a number of circular spots forming a pattern, used especially on dress material: a polka-dot skirt
poll¹ /pəʊl/ n 1 [C] also opinion poll — a) an attempt to find out the general opinion about something, especially about a political matter, by questioning a number of people chosen by chance: We're conducting a poll to find out how many people are in favour of nuclear power. b) a record of the result of this: The latest poll gives the Republicans a 5% lead. → see also DEED POLL, GALLUP POLL, STRAW POLL 2 [U] also polls pl. — the giving of votes in writing at an election: The result of the poll won't be known until midnight. | The Conservatives were defeated at the polls. | The British public will go to the polls (=vote in an election) in the autumn. 3 [S] the number of votes recorded at an election: They expected a heavy poll. (=expected that a large number of people would vote) 4 [U] AmE POLLS
poll² v [T] 1 to question (people) in making a poll: Almost three-quarters of those who were polled said they opposed the government's policy. 2 to receive (the stated number of votes) at an election: She polled 10,372 votes.
pol·lard¹ /'pɒləd/ˈpɑːləd/ n. 1 a tree from which the top has been cut in order to make the branches below the cut place grow more thickly 2 a hornless kind of sheep, goat etc
pollard² v [T] to cut the top off (a tree) in order to make lower branches grow more thickly
pol-len /'polənl/pɑː-/ n [U] fine dust on the male part of a flower that causes other flowers to produce seeds when it is carried to them
'pollen count n a measure of the amount of pollen floating in the air, especially as a guide for people who are made ill by it: a very high pollen count → see also HAY FEVER
pol·li·nate /'polɪneɪt/ˈpɑːl/ v [T] to cause (a flower or plant) to be able to produce seeds by adding or bringing pollen: Flowers are often pollinated by bees. —nation /ˌpɒlɪˈneɪʃən/ [U]
poll·ing /ˈpæulɪŋ/ n [U] voting at an election: Polling was quite heavy. (=A lot of people voted.)
'polling booth especially BrE || voting booth AmE — n' a partly enclosed place inside a polling station where someone marks their voting paper secretly
'polling day BrE ‖ election day AmE — n the day on which people go to vote in an election
'polling ,station especially BrE || polling place, the polls AmE — n a building or other place where people go to vote at an election: Our local library is used as a polling station during elections.
pol·li·wog, pollywog /'poliwog\|'pa:liwa:g/ n [C] AmE a TADPOLE
Pol•lock, Graeme /'pɒləkˈpɑː-, 'greɪəm/ (1944-), a South African CRICKET player who is considered to be one of the greatest batsmen of all time
Pollock, Jackson (1912–56) a US artist known for his very large ABSTRACT paintings which are full of colour. He often made them by putting the painting on the floor and then walking around it, letting the paint drip from sticks. → see colour photo on page A29
polls /pəʊlz/ n [the P] 1 POLL 2 AmE the place where one goes to vote: 'Where are the polls this year?' 'At the school.'
poll·ster /ˈpəʊlstər/ n infmi a person who carries out POLLS or who explains the meaning of the results of polls
'poll tax [the] 1 a tax of a fixed amount collected from every citizen 2 also Community Charge a British tax of a fixed amount to be paid by each person in each area of the country, introduced by the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher as a way of paying for local government services. The amount to be paid was fixed separately by each area. Many people protested against this tax, and it was decided to replace it with the council tax, based mainly on the value of people's houses.
pol·lut·ant /pəˈluːtənt/ n [C;U] a substance that pollutes, especially a waste product of an industrial process: Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere.
pol·lute /pəˈluːt/ v [T] to make (air, water, soil etc) dangerously impure or unfit for use: The river has been polluted by waste products from the factory. | (fig.) violent films that pollute (=make impure) young minds
pollution /pəˈluːʃən/ n [U]. 1 the action of polluting or the state of being polluted: pollution of tourist beaches | anti-pollution laws 2 (an area or mass of) a substance that pollutes: The men were clearing all the pollution off the beach.
Pollux → see CASTOR AND POLLUX