geopolitics
Americannoun
-
the study or the application of the influence of political and economic geography on the politics, national power, foreign policy, etc., of a state.
-
the combination of geographic and political factors influencing or delineating a country or region.
-
a national policy based on the interrelation of politics and geography.
-
a Nazi doctrine that a combination of political, geographic, historical, racial, and economic factors substantiated Germany's right to expand its borders and control various strategic land masses and natural resources.
noun
-
(functioning as singular) the study of the effect of geographical factors on politics, esp international politics; political geography
-
(functioning as plural) the combination of geographical and political factors affecting a country or area
-
(functioning as plural) politics as they affect the whole world; global politics
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of geopolitics
1900–05; translation of German Geopolitik. See geo-, politics
Explanation
Geopolitics is the study of how things like a country's land, climate, and natural resources all affect its government and economy. The geopolitics of the U.S. are influenced by its extremely large size. Geopolitics may sound intimidating, but it's really nothing more than a combination of geography and politics. It's what happens when you take the physical features of a place, including the ways humans interact with those features, and look at their influence on how the place is governed. When you examine the geopolitics of the U.K., its small size and the fact that it's an island play a huge part in its ability to defend its borders from attack.
Vocabulary lists containing geopolitics
Elements of the Universe: Geo ("Earth")
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Human Geography - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
East Asia - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Big banks’ profit engines are humming along even as geopolitics keep threatening to gum up the works.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
But in the world of geopolitics, and especially in the case of a complicated Middle East, Trump may find it more difficult to achieve his desired outcomes.
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
Observing what happens in this “quaint little town” on the border, she says, is crucial to understanding global geopolitics.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Gensource director Josh King believes the net-zero targets are good for growth, jobs and the economy, particularly at a time when energy prices are being severely affected by geopolitics.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
Nor is it my job to explain the geopolitics of countries you keep hearing about in the news or to defend a peaceful religion practiced by one-point-six billion people.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
