sociologist

American  

[soh-see-ahl-uhj-ist, soh-shee-ahl-uhj-ist] / ˌsoʊ siˈɑl ədʒ ɪst, ˌsoʊ ʃiˈɑl ədʒ ɪst /

noun

sociologists plural

1. an expert in sociology.

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Other Word Forms

• sociologism
  noun

Explanation

A sociologist studies how people act within societies and other groups. If you're interested in issues like gender roles, crime, or the way families interact, you might want to be a sociologist. Sociology is a social science that examines the way people work in groups, and sociologists are scientists who practice sociology. Any topic that's connected to society falls under a sociologist's expertise, including social class, family structures, religious customs, war and conflict, and much more. The word sociologist comes from sociology and its Latin root socius, "associate."

Example Sentences

In the same article, London School of Economics sociologist Kristin Surak described such people as “Armageddon Americans,” a term that requires no explanation.

From Salon • May 31, 2026

In a moment of darkness in China, “they feel they have to be the light,” said Fenggang Yang, a Purdue University sociologist who researches the country’s house churches.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

But BTS are proving that is not going to be the case for them, said American sociologist Sam Richards, a professor at Pennsylvania State University.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

To connect maternal regret with unloving and neglectful parenting is a careless assumption, according to Israeli sociologist Orna Donath, author of Regretting Motherhood: A Study.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

It was then that the noted sociologist, E. Clarence Boonam, finally spoke.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols