politician

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. One who is actively involved in politics, especially party politics.
2. n. One who holds or seeks a political office.
3. n. One who seeks personal or partisan gain, often by scheming and maneuvering: "Mothers may still want their favorite sons to grow up to be President, but . . . they do not want them to become politicians in the process” ( John F. Kennedy).
4. n. One who is skilled or experienced in the science or administration of government.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One who is versed in the science of government and the art of governing; one who is skilled in politics.
2. n. One who occupies himself with polities; one who devotes himself to public affairs or to the promotion of the interests of a political party; one who is practically interested in politics; in a bad sense, one who concerns himself with public affairs not from patriotism or public spirit, but for his own profit or that of his friends, or of a clique or party.
3. n. A politic or crafty person; a petty and generally an unscrupulous schemer; a trickster.
4. Politic; using artifice.
5. Of or pertaining to politicians or their methods.

Wiktionary

1. n. One engaged in politics, especially an elected or appointed government official.
2. n. Specifically, one who regards elected political office as a career.
3. n. A politically active or interested person.
4. n. A sly or ingratiating person.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. One versed or experienced in the science of government; one devoted to politics; a statesman.
2. n. One primarily devoted to his own advancement in public office, or to the success of a political party; -- used in a depreciatory sense; one addicted or attached to politics as managed by parties (see Politics, 2); a schemer; an intriguer.
3. adj. Cunning; using artifice; politic; artful.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a schemer who tries to gain advantage in an organization in sly or underhanded ways
2. n. a person active in party politics
3. n. a leader engaged in civil administration