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

While it's not unusual for legislators to occasionally defect in Canadian politics, the recent rate of party-switching was "extraordinary", said Semra Sevi, who teaches political science at the University of Toronto.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Mr. Gilley is a professor of political science at Portland State University, a presidential scholar at the New College of Florida, and author of “The Case for Colonialism.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

The fatal confrontation reportedly began with disturbances outside a conference at Sciences Po, the highly-regarded French political science institute.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

"Short disruptions create price volatility. Sustained damage creates lasting economic shock," Robert Pape, a political science and military expert at the University of Chicago, wrote on his Substack.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

She was one of my favorite teachers, a tiny dark passionate woman with circles under her eyes who taught political science.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

Related Words

• civics