case study

American  

noun

case studies plural

1. a study of an individual unit, as a person, family, or social group, usually emphasizing developmental issues and relationships with the environment, especially in order to compare a larger group to the individual unit.

2. case history.

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case study British  

noun

1. the act or an instance of analysing one or more particular cases or case histories with a view to making generalizations

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• case studies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of case study

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Burnham has argued that Greater Manchester is a case study in how devolution can lift economic growth.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026

Schickler said Pelosi’s name has repeatedly surfaced in his classes as a case study in how to maneuver the body, such as her role in pushing for passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

Lidl's pub isn't just a novelty, it's a case study in how Northern Ireland's unusual licensing rules shape who can open venues.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

For those who study ancient Greece, the classical era, roughly the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., presents a case study in the failure to learn from history.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

This particular case study on West African music relies solely on aural learning, which means that a rote method is applicable to the music learning.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• medical history