psephology

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The predictive or statistical study of elections.
  2. An ancient Greek method of numerology, similar to gematria.

Pronunciation

/sɪˈfɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-psephology.wav /sɪˈfɑl.ə.d͡ʒi/

Word forms

psephology

Etymology

From psepho- (“pebble”) + -ology (“study of”), drawing on the various definitions of Ancient Greek ψῆφος (psêphos, “pebble used for reckoning; pebble used for casting a vote”). The sense relating to elections was coined in 1948 by Frank Hardie.

Related words

Derived words

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