sociology

noun

so·​ci·​ol·​o·​gy ˌsō-sē-ˈä-lə-jē  ˌsō-shē- 

1

: the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships

specifically : the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings

2

: the scientific analysis of a social institution as a functioning whole and as it relates to the rest of society

3

: synecology

sociologist

ˌsō-sē-ˈä-lə-jist  ˌsō-shē- 

noun

Examples of sociology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bazargan-Hejazi completed her bachelor's, master's and PhD in medical sociology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. —Deb Harvell, arkansasonline.com, 27 Oct. 2024

Over the days leading up to the vote, the outcome remained unclear, Jake Rosenfeld, a professor of sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, who studies labor, told ABC News. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 23 Oct. 2024

Gloria González-López, a professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, said that both American and Latin American societies are patriarchal: With women usually responsible for the raising of children, this construct creates space in Latino and other communities for la tía, or aunt. —Raul A. Reyes, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2024

There’s also a danger in the sociology of the newsroom, where intelligent journalists lock into a viewpoint and aren’t as receptive to competing evidence. —Rob Wells / Made By History, TIME, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French sociologie, from socio- + -logie -logy

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sociology

• industrial sociology

Kids Definition

sociology

noun

so·​ci·​ol·​o·​gy ˌsō-sē-ˈäl-ə-jē 

ˌsō-shē-

: the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships

Medical Definition

sociology

noun

so·​ci·​ol·​o·​gy ˌsō-sē-ˈäl-ə-jē  ˌsō-shē- 

plural sociologies

: the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships

specifically : the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings