Definition

Noun: The scientific study of elections, voting behavior, and public opinion, especially through the use of statistical analysis and opinion polls.

Usage

"Psephology" is a formal, academic term used to describe the systematic analysis of elections. It is used by political scientists, journalists, and commentators to discuss the forecasting and interpretation of electoral results and trends. * The professor specialized in psephology and could accurately predict electoral outcomes. * Her interest in psephology led her to a career analyzing polling data for a news network.

Advanced Usage

• "Psephological analysis": The detailed examination of election data.
  • The article provided a deep psephological analysis of the swing states.
• "Psephologist" (noun): A person who studies psephology.
  • The leading psephologist was invited to comment on the election night broadcast.

Variants and Related Words

• Psephologist (n): An expert in psephology.
• Psephological (adj): Relating to psephology.
  • The report contained important psephological insights.

Synonyms

• Electoral analysis: The examination of election processes and results.
• Polling analysis: The study and interpretation of opinion poll data.

Notes on Meaning

This word is highly specific and is almost exclusively used in the context of political science and electoral journalism. It is not a general term for politics or government.

Noun

1. the branch of sociology that studies election trends (as by opinion polls)