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

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

“He’s kind of a case study in somebody who has a lot of opinions but has no idea of how the city is run,” Stevens said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

At Microsoft, Rose brought in outside experts and organized workshops to destigmatize failure and end internal rivalries, according to the 2024 Harvard Business case study.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

When the city first started installing LEDs in 2009, bulbs were set to 4,300 Kelvins, according to a case study.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

If I could just confirm that case study.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

Related Words

• medical history