psephology

[ see-fol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the study of elections.

psephology

/ sɛˈfɒlədʒɪ; ˌsɛfəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the statistical and sociological study of elections

Derived Forms

• psephological, adjective
• pseˈphologist, noun
• ˌpsephoˈlogically, adverb

Other Words From

• psepho·logi·cal [‑f, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
• pse·pholo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of psephology¹

First recorded in 1945–50; from Greek psêpho(s) “pebble” + -logy; so called from the Athenian custom of casting votes by means of pebbles

Word History and Origins

Origin of psephology¹

C20: from Greek psephos pebble, vote + -logy , from the ancient Greeks' custom of voting with pebbles