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

They ended up majoring in government and political science — Jim at Saint Mary’s College in the Bay Area, Tom at Gonzaga University in Washington state — as a kind of default.

From Los Angeles Times

Chattah, 50, devoted years to a not-particularly-noteworthy legal career, practicing domestic and international law at her Las Vegas firm and teaching political science for a time at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

From Los Angeles Times

Indeed, it runs afoul of the entire basis of both political science and economic decision-making: the rational choice model of human behavior, whereby people are assumed to understand their own material interests.

From Salon

Susan Stokes, a political science professor at the University of Chicago and faculty chair of the Chicago Center on Democracy, agreed.

From Salon

Democrats will face an unusual messaging challenge with the November ballot measure, said Matt Lesenyie, an assistant professor of political science at Cal State Long Beach.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• civics