hard science

American  

noun

1. any of the natural or physical sciences, as chemistry, biology, physics, or astronomy, in which aspects of the universe are investigated by means of hypotheses and experiments.

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hard science British  

noun

1. 1. one of the natural or physical sciences, such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology, or astronomy

   2. ( as modifier )

      a hard-science lecture

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hard scientist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of hard science

First recorded in 1965–70

Compare meaning

How does hard-science compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hard science vs. soft science

Example Sentences

How much hard science backs all of this?

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

“It shows a lot of hard science at work that’s actually going to have an impact on the public and hopefully make people safer,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2024

None of this alone equates to hard science.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 8, 2023

"There is hard science behind the claim that social media is fueling a mental health epidemic in school-age children," said Nancy Magee, superintendent for the Board of Education in San Mateo, California.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2023

I really considered this study a social science, not a hard science, and I wasn't interested in the squishy stuff, so I had stayed away.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan