political science

noun

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

political science

noun

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

political science

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.

Other Word Forms

• political scientist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of political science¹

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

The case “is ultimately about the role of experts and professional advice that communicates expertise,” said Claudia Haupt, professor of law and political science at Northeastern University.

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He initially trained to become a Catholic priest before studying political science in Paris.

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As counterintuitive as it may seem, political science shows that would-be dictators need strong public support, especially early in the regimes.

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In many ways, Minneapolis’ mayoral race is a microcosm of the Democratic National Committee’s battle for definition post-2024 election, according to David Schultz, a professor of political science at Hamline University in Minnesota.

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The speech was rooted in “an American First foreign policy,” observed Paul Poast, an associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago and a nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

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Related Words

• civics