Apolitik
/id/Source Language: The language or dialect this term originates from (ID).Definition & Context
AdjectiveAdjective
A word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.
A stance or condition of non-involvement and neutrality in political affairs; remaining impartial toward any form of political activity or ideology.
Synonyms & Variants
golput
Acronym for 'golongan putih' (white group), referring to the act of not voting in general elections as a form of protest or political indifference.
independen
Free; not bound; not dependent on others.
netral
Netral is a more common and broader equivalent compared to apolitik. It can be applied across various non-political contexts, making it semantically wider but less specific.
non-partisan
Not affiliated with or biased towards any particular political party or group.
nonpartisan
Nonpartisan carries a very close meaning to apolitik, referring to not aligning with any particular political party or group. Both are used in formal and academic contexts.
tidak berpolitik
Tidak berpolitik is a descriptive everyday Indonesian phrase carrying the same meaning as apolitik, but it feels more casual and less technical compared to the loanword apolitik, which is more formal and academic in tone.
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word apolitik is derived from the English apolitical, itself rooted in the Greek prefix a- meaning “without” or “not”, combined with politikos meaning “of or relating to citizens or the state”. In the Indonesian context, the term is commonly used in constitutional and military discourse, particularly in reference to the post-1998 Reformasi era, when the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police (Polri) were mandated by law to return to a strictly “apolitical” stance, following the abolition of the controversial dwifungsi (dual-function) doctrine of the New Order regime.
Real-world Usage
TNI wajib bersikap apolitik dan tidak boleh berpihak ke partai mana pun.
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.