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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The Havana syndrome saga is an epic failure of science, one with severe consequences both for patients and for international relations, which reveals how medical evidence warps under political pressure. Mitchell J. Valdés-sosa, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2023 Michael Desch, international relations professor at the University of Notre Dame, was also with Webb leading the tour. Cathy Free, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2023 Michael Desch, international relations professor at the University of Notre Dame, was also with Webb leading the tour. Cathy Free, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Feb. 2023 This year's conference is focused on threats to the accepted rules of international relations nearly a year after Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2023 Xing Yue, a professor of international relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said the tensions might not ease before summer. Edward Wong, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2023 But the same history tells us that episodes like these can still have outsize effects on international relations at a time of rising global tension. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023 The story makes audience think about true peace amidst the complexities of international relations. Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 Jan. 2023 Asian countries also actively seek more trade and investment with the U.S., says Miura Hideyuki, associate professor of international relations at Kyorin University in Tokyo. Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'international relations.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near international relations

Cite this Entry

“International relations.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/international%20relations. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on international relations

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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


Challenging Standardized Test Words

  • high school student holding a pencil leaning over a sat test
  • Despite the cacophony, the student tried to study.
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY