economics
Americannoun
-
(used with a singular verb) the science that deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, or the material welfare of humankind.
-
(used with a plural verb) financial considerations; economically significant aspects.
What are the economics of such a project?
noun
-
(functioning as singular) the social science concerned with the production and consumption of goods and services and the analysis of the commercial activities of a society See also macroeconomics microeconomics
-
(functioning as plural) financial aspects
the economics of the project are very doubtful
Discover More
Economics is sometimes referred to as the “dismal science.”
Economics is generally understood to concern behavior that, given the scarcity of means, arises to achieve certain ends. When scarcity ceases, conventional economic theory may no longer be applicable. (See affluent society.)
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of economics
Explanation
Economics studies the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management. People get jobs, they make things, they sell those things, they get paid, they use that money to buy other things. Economics makes the world go round. Economics is a branch of social science. Like dueling political parties, economists also support different theories about how to best regulate the economy with government policies. Since it relates to the financial health of countries and how countries interact through trade, the relevance of economics is enormous and often the subject of the evening news. "Home Economics" is the somewhat antiquated yet still relevant notion of the management of money, food, laundry, and cleaning that keep a house running smoothly.
Vocabulary lists containing economics
Economics
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Friendship War
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Enlightenment
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
And Giuseppe Sette, president of the AI investment analytics firm Reflexivity, thinks a drop in token prices could be broadly helpful, rather than destructive to AI economics.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 9, 2026
In this case, there is evidence that greater “knowledge leads to better behavior,” according to Annamaria Lusardi, a Stanford University economics professor and a co-author of the 2026 Personal Finance Index report.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 8, 2026
Enrico Moretti is a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, who lives in the city.
From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026
I studied politics and economics at university, so it’s hard not to have views on things.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026
If you go back and read the basic economics textbooks, they will tell you: Goods are traded, but services are consumed and produced in the same place.
From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman
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.
