political science

American  

noun

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

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political science British  

noun

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

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political science Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

• political scientist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of political science

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

political science

"Tehran views these two states as the most accessible and lower-cost pressure points in the Gulf," said Hamad Althunayyan, an assistant professor of political science at Kuwait University.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

She attended Brandeis University, where she majored in political science and performed in musicals and cabaret.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

"It's a year of pressures on Canadian national unity," said André Lecours, a political science professor at the University of Ottawa.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

As a political science scholar who studies presidential power, I believe the unitary executive theory is perhaps the most contentious and consequential constitutional theory of the past several decades.

From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026

During her senior year at Swarthmore College, she took a course in political science, which sparked her interest in political activism.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Related Words

• civics