international relations

noun

plural in form but singular in construction
: a branch of political science concerned with relations between nations and primarily with foreign policies

Examples of international relations in a Sentence

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.
Ties between India and China have been among the most consequential in international relations, particularly during the 20th and 21st centuries. Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026 Ferrera earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations in 2013, per USC Today. Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 Academic and columnist Tomás Milton Muñoz Bravo, professor of international relations at UNAM, says that this type of response should have come much earlier. Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 12 July 2026 Sail 250 has brought foreign militaries to the United States amid a volatile period for the country's international relations. Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for international relations

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of international relations was in 1914

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“International relations.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/international%20relations. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on international relations

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!