socioeconomic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of socioeconomic
Explanation
The term socioeconomic refers to the interaction between the social and economic habits of a group of people — like the dating habits of millionaires! The prefix socio- refers to "the study of the behaviors of people," including the ways they interact with one another or their family structures. The word economic refers to the economy, such as people’s income and finances. Socioeconomic links financial and social issues together. Whether you end up joining the exclusive country club or the community center will depend on socioeconomic issues — like which place your friends hang out and which one do you have the money to join?
Vocabulary lists containing socioeconomic
U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
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!
U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
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 Digital Revolution and the Adolescent Brain Evolution" by Jay N. Giedd
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.
A paycheck isn’t the only determinant of where Americans place themselves on the socioeconomic ladder.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026
"This centre meets the needs of local people with innovation and enthusiasm and is a model that could apply to every community with higher levels of socioeconomic issues."
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
“We have a socioeconomic problem in Rio de Janeiro—we have very wealthy people, and we have very destitute people,” Moscatelli says.
From Slate • May 27, 2026
Four years later, researchers evaluated their socioeconomic status by looking at factors such as education level, occupation, and income.
From Science Daily • May 6, 2026
And what weight should we assign each of the many inputs that affect a child’s outcome: genes, family environment, socioeconomic level, schooling, discrimination, luck, illness, and so on?
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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.
