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

Stein attended UC Berkeley, majoring in political science, but he left about a semester shy of graduating.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr. Koppell, the president, holds a bachelor’s degree in government and a master’s and doctorate in political science.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The case of political science best illustrates what must be done.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Absolutely not, Yale political science professor Steven Smith responded from the passenger seat as the two traveled on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Anomaly, who changed his last name as a college student, is a former professor of political science at Duke University.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• civics