political science

American  

noun

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

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political science British  

noun

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

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political science Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

• political scientist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of political science

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

political science

Kaijage, who teaches political science and public administration, was not asked to enter a plea at Thursday's hearing as his terrorism case can only be heard by a higher court.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Greta is a recent graduate of Stanford University, where she studied political science and served as the editor in chief of the Stanford Daily.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

As a political science scholar who studies presidential power, I believe the unitary executive theory is perhaps the most contentious and consequential constitutional theory of the past several decades.

From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026

State police "would help fill the yawning gaps in extant policing framework," Femi Mimiko, a political science professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

He was studying political science at St. John’s at night, working afternoons for a caterer and volunteering whenever he could for John Kwang.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Related Words

• civics