social science

noun

1

: a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society

2

: a science (such as economics or political science) dealing with a particular phase or aspect of human society

social scientist noun

Examples of social science in a Sentence

Economics is a social science.

Recent Examples on the Web

The nature of the local communities where voters reside also plays a role, as suggested by results from the American Communities Project, a social science/journalism effort by the Michigan State University School of Journalism. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Basically, those are college prep courses in history/social science, English, math, a foreign language, a laboratory science, visual and performing arts, and a college preparatory elective. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Eileen Graham, associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University School of Medicine, added that the pandemic likely made people more vulnerable to isolation. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024

But modeling is still a side job; a student of social sciences, Tage lives with his family in Stockholm. —Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

social science

noun

1

: a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society

2

: a science (as economics) dealing with a particular side of human society

Medical Definition

social science

noun

1

: a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society

2

: a science (as anthropology or social psychology) dealing with a particular phase or aspect of human society