political science

See synonyms for political science on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a social science dealing with political institutions and with the principles and conduct of government.

Origin of political science

1
First recorded in 1770–80

Other words from political science

  • political scientist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use political science in a sentence

  • With this growth of great nations came a rapid development in political science, in legal institutions, in social relations.

    Man And His Ancestor | Charles Morris
  • They had been discussing woman suffrage, some question that had come up in the political-science class that day.

    The Witness | Grace Livingston Hill Lutz
  • Compare also his article in political science Quarterly, vol.

  • This year she will have those two subjects and political science.

  • There are very few colleges and universities which do not provide courses in political science.

British Dictionary definitions for political science

political science

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

Derived forms of political science

  • political scientist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for political science

political science

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.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.