political science

1 of 2

noun (1)

: a social science concerned chiefly with the description and analysis of political and especially governmental institutions and processes
political scientist noun

political scientist

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a specialist in political science

Examples of political science in a Sentence

Noun (1) a degree in political science
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Christian Grose, a professor of political science and public policy at the University of Southern California, said there is historically about a 10% to 20% Republican voter dropoff in intraparty Democratic elections in California. — Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, said Trump’s annexation threats carry particular weight in Quebec. — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Southern Methodist University political science professor Calvin Jillson said Trump isn’t helping the GOP ticket, pointing to his low approval rating. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 The new King also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley, and credits his experience there with introducing him to people from different backgrounds. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for political science

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1606, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of political science was in 1606

Rhymes for political science

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Browse Nearby Words

political rights
political science
political scientist
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Cite this Entry

“Political science.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/political%20science. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

political science

noun
: the study of government and politics
political scientist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on political science

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about political science

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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