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Synonyms

case study

American  

noun

  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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of case study

First recorded in 1930–35

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.

It’s promoting the kind of fast fashion brand that’s been regarded as a case study on the industry’s environmental impact.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Humira is just one example, but it’s a fascinating case study for understanding how healthcare costs have gotten so horribly out of control and what’s needed to fix it.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

Three hours east of Guaca, along heavily potholed roads with no mobile signal and few basic amenities, the town of Güiria is a case study of the consequences of decades of neglect.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

A case study released alongside the global assessment identifies 20 migratory fish species in the Amazon that meet the criteria for potential CMS Appendix II listing.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

“Somehow, Mom, I always feel like a case study around you.”

From "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz

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.