sociology
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What is sociology? Sociology is the study of human society and the social interactions and behavior of humans. Sociology is, generally speaking, the study of human interaction. How do people socialize? What happens when people live together? How are members of a group influencing each other? Why does someone become a king and someone else lives their whole life as a peasant? These are the kinds of questions a sociologist is interested in. Sociology is an incredibly broad science and often overlaps with other fields of study, such as psychology or economics. A sociologist may look at social groups on a large (macro) scale, such as studying the different societies of Asia, or may look at groups on a small (micro) scale, such as studying Brazilian teenagers or even a single town. As far as a sociologist is concerned, no person ever makes a decision without some influence from society or their social groups. Sociology isn’t just the study of people but more specifically the study of what happens when people are around each other.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of sociology
From the French word sociologie, dating back to 1835–45. See socio-, -logy
Explanation
Sociology is the study of human cultures, communities, and societies. Sociology attempts to explain how a society works, whether that society is a native tribe in the Amazon or an old folks’ home in Nebraska. Sociology is one of the social — sometimes called soft — sciences. It's the study of human actions and interactions. People who study sociology — sociologists — look at how people interact in groups and what kinds of religions, governments, schools, and other ways of life they create. While psychology looks mostly at individuals, sociology looks at people in groups.
Vocabulary lists containing sociology
Power Suffix: -ology
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A Raisin in the Sun
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some 32% of Ukrainians say they speak Russian or Russian and Ukrainian at home, according to Kyiv International Institute of Sociology polling released this spring.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
I spoke with Charlotte Woodward, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and now works as Education Program Associate for National Down Syndrome Society.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2025
"When the situation becomes worse, we have another rallying around the flag," explains Volodymyr Paniotto, director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology which conducted some of the polling.
From BBC • Mar. 1, 2025
Guest: Brian Donovan, professor of sociology at the University of Kansas who teaches a college course called “The Sociology of Taylor Swift.”
From Slate • Sep. 16, 2024
Dr. Alvarez is there, too, Joaquin’s professor from the Intro to Sociology class he’s taking at the local community college.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
