social science
Americannoun
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the study of society and social behavior.
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a science or field of study, as history, economics, etc., dealing with an aspect of society or forms of social activity.
noun
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the study of society and of the relationship of individual members within society, including economics, history, political science, psychology, anthropology, and sociology
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any of these subjects studied individually
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of social science
First recorded in 1775–85
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.
He became crown prince in 1957, and studied social science, history and economics at Balliol College in Oxford from 1960 to 1962.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Among these workers, the district has issued “non-renewal notices” to 291 with teaching credentials, including 181 elementary teachers, and, at the middle and high level, 15 English teachers and 45 social science teachers.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
The good news is that social science has answers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025
The state-approved social science framework notes that teachers should use age-appropriate materials to discuss and teach about the “the diversity of humankind.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2025
It is the founding concept of modern social science: David Hume’s theory of the balance of trade and Adam Smith’s conception of the market depend on the concept of a feedback mechanism.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
