social studies

American  

noun

1. a course of instruction in an elementary or secondary school comprising such subjects as history, geography, civics, etc.

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social studies British  

noun

1. (functioning as singular) the study of how people live and organize themselves in society, embracing geography, history, economics, and other subjects

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Etymology

Origin of social studies

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

social studies

Audiences, including the middle school social studies students, deserve better and more nuanced stories about this country and the values it was built upon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

The curriculum overhaul extends well beyond the Bible, reshaping social studies instruction and expanding the state’s required reading list.

From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026

“We’ve always highlighted civics, social studies, history, economics and very specifically about how countries operate,” says series creator and executive producer Aaron Augenblick.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

Frankl became a friend and mentor to Eger, who taught middle-school social studies in El Paso and later earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Saybrook University.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

She used to teach middle school social studies way back when, and she said going through the paper each day with her students was always part of her class.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell