How to say "politician" in Japanese

• 政治家せいじかCommon
  nounThe default word for the everyday sense of 'politician': someone engaged in politics as a profession, such as an elected official. It can also mean a statesman, so it suits respected political figures too.
  その政治家せいじかは何なん年間ねんかんも、麻薬まやくの密みつ売買ばいばいをしてきた。↗

  That politician has been trafficking in drugs for years.
• 為政者いせいしゃCommon
  nounThis term views its subject as one who governs: a statesman, administrator, or policymaker. It can render 'politician' when the emphasis is on governing power, but for a politician as a profession use 政治家.

Use 政治家 for the ordinary sense of 'politician', a person whose profession is politics; use 為政者 when you mean someone who actually governs — a statesman, administrator, or policymaker — rather than a politician as an occupation.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 政治家せいじかpolitician
• 為政者いせいしゃstatesman
• ポリティシャンpolitician
• 為政家いせいかpolitician
• 政治屋せいじやpolitician (esp. one who works only for their own personal gain)
• 政客せいかくpolitician (or someone otherwise engaged in politics)