political science

noun

1. a social science dealing with political institutions and with the principles and conduct of government.

political science

noun

1. (esp as an academic subject) the study of the state, government, and politics: one of the social sciences

political science

1. The systematic study of government and politics. Political science is a social science that makes generalizations and analyses about political systems and political behavior and uses these results to predict future behavior. Political science includes the study of political philosophy , ethics , international relations and foreign policy, public administration, and the dynamic relations between different parts of governments.

Derived Forms

• political scientist, noun

Other Words From

• political scientist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of political science¹

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

As Galen Jackson, an associate professor of political science at Williams College, put it, “To the extent that Israel plans to hold on to the settlements that it builds in the West Bank, then almost by definition annexation has been proceeding for decades on a gradual basis. The main difference with Trump, in that case, is that he doesn’t even protest Israeli settlement expansion or deem it in violation of international law, whereas all other U.S. administrations have.”

From Slate

Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University, told The Washington Post that such a move would be “an absolute abdication of their constitutional power.”

From Salon

While oligarchs are typically thought of as Eastern European businessmen with considerable sway over government, Northwestern University political science professor Jeffrey Winters says we need to start applying the label not only to Musk but to many of America’s ultrawealthy.

From Slate

Political science fundamentals would tell us that this was a "change" election year — people think the nation is heading in the wrong direction, the incumbent president is unpopular, and people's personal economic situation is stressed — but it was hard to know whetherpeople would prefer to "stay the course" or "change," because Trump was also a deeply unpopular president.

From Salon

Salas served in the California Assembly for 10 years and later became a lecturer in political science at Cal State Bakersfield.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• civics