international relations

American  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of international relations

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Some documents will be redacted on national security or international relations grounds, or to remove the names of junior officials.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

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

"Relevant countries maintained support for the one-China principle, completely in line with... the basic norms of international relations, China expresses high appreciation," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 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