politics x policy

What is the difference in meaning between these two words
politics and policy ?

I looked them up in dictionaries but I think I still need some examples to really understand the difference.

I know policy admits the plural form policies while politics seems to be inflective.

Regarding the origin, I guess they have a common origin, right?

P.S.: Feel free to correct any mistakes in this post.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ymnisky

What is the difference in meaning between these two words
politics and policy ?

I looked them up in dictionaries but I think I still need some examples to really understand the difference.

I know policy admits the plural form policies while politics seems to be inflective.

Regarding the origin, I guess they have a common origin, right?

P.S.: Feel free to correct any mistakes in this post.

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The term politics is something to do with the methods and actions by which people acquire power in a country. For the man in the street, it merely means political games and affairs.
Politics is also the name of the study of the ways in which countries are governed.
The term policy is something to do with a set of plans or actions that has been agreed upon by a government, political party, business or other group.

So in brief, politics [no singular form] - (the study of) political affairs; policy [plural form, policies] - plans.

Thank you very much engee30.
Incidentally, I have found this old post here:
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/as...-politics.html