international relations

American  

noun

1. a branch of political science dealing with the relations between nations.

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Etymology

Origin of international relations

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Lai’s trip to Eswatini was a display of his “fighting character,” but risked “being seen as irresponsible from a national-security perspective,” said James Yifan Chen, who teaches international relations at Taiwan’s Tamkang University.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

“Amateurs look at strategy; pros look at logistics,” said Robert Pape, a professor of international relations at the University of Chicago.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

For all of his polish and shrewd instincts, he is still a relative newcomer to the world of international relations.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

“Of course, it could still lead to tension and escalation from an international relations perspective,” Harrington said.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

My major in international relations with a focus on North Africa was no longer an abstract area of study, it was what I was living, eating, and breathing every day for three months.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad