social science

noun

1. the study of society and social behavior.

2. a science or field of study, as history, economics, etc., dealing with an aspect of society or forms of social activity.

social science

noun

1. the study of society and of the relationship of individual members within society, including economics, history, political science, psychology, anthropology, and sociology

2. any of these subjects studied individually

social science

1. Any of various disciplines that study human society and social relationships, including sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, political science, and history.

social science

1. The study of how groups of people behave, often in an effort to predict how they will behave in the future. The social sciences include economics, anthropology, sociology, political science, and aspects of psychology and history.

Other Word Forms

• social scientist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of social science¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Decades of social science research shows that poverty — especially intergenerational poverty — is driven largely by structural and institutional forces beyond an individual’s control.

From Salon

As the first in her family to go to university, Tian Liu didn't know what to expect before she started her combined honours degree in social sciences.

From BBC

A number of Ohio institutions began to comply with the law in the spring, shuttering DEI offices, eliminating a number of majors in the humanities and social sciences, and postponing racial affinity events.

From Salon

She notes that by 1975, 24,000 students, faculty, and staff had been dismissed, thousands imprisoned and tortured, and entire philosophy and social science departments disbanded.

From Salon

A dedicated social science programmewill run in tandem with the project's scientific development and will be led by Prof Joy Zhang, a sociologist, at the University of Kent.

From BBC

Related Words

• business 
• finance