political football
noun
: an issue that politicians argue about and try to use for their advantage
This issue is too important to be treated as a political football.
Examples of political football in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Apple and Google restored the app after the Justice Department signaled a hands-off approach — but if the last year is anything to go by, TikTok’s future in the U.S. is perhaps more political football than anything else.
—
Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
The interplay of gas prices, gas taxes and roadway conditions is a perennial political football.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
Away from Adolescence being used as a political football, the show, produced by Brad Pitt’s Plan B, Warp Films and Matriarch Productions, has in the past few weeks been redefining the notion of a breakout hit.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Is there a way to avoid this becoming just another political football and really re-emphasize security best practices?
—Obed Manuel, NPR, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for political football
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Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
The interplay of gas prices, gas taxes and roadway conditions is a perennial political football.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
Away from Adolescence being used as a political football, the show, produced by Brad Pitt’s Plan B, Warp Films and Matriarch Productions, has in the past few weeks been redefining the notion of a breakout hit.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Is there a way to avoid this becoming just another political football and really re-emphasize security best practices?
—Obed Manuel, NPR, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for political football
Cite this Entry
“Political football.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/political%20football. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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