sociology

[ soh-see-ol-uh-jee, soh-shee- ]

/ ˌsoʊ siˈɒl ə dʒi, ˌsoʊ ʃi- /

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See synonyms for sociology on Thesaurus.com

noun

the science or study of the origin, development, organization, and functioning of human society; the science of the fundamental laws of social relations, institutions, etc.

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Origin of sociology

From the French word sociologie, dating back to 1835–45. See socio-, -logy

OTHER WORDS FROM sociology

so·ci·ol·o·gist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sociology in a sentence

I talked with Hilary Levey Friedman, a sociologist and author of Playing to Win: Raising Children in a Competitive Culture.
My Loser Kid Should Get a Trophy|Brandy Zadrozny|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sociologist Michael Mann called this process by which wars create larger and more productive societies “caging.”
War! What Is It Good For? A Lot|Nick Romeo|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Welcome to politics, some will say, along with the great political sociologist Max Weber.
Hunter S. Thompson Was Right About America: It’s Still Freaks vs. Fear|James Poulos|February 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the 19th-century German sociologist Max Weber said, what good is the best social policy if the Cossacks are coming?
Why Democracy Will Struggle In The Arab World In 2014|Balint Szlanko|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Perec used to do market research (like his protagonists in Things) and was friendly with the sociologist Henri Lefebvre.
To Dream a Dream: Georges Perec’s Night Visions|Lauren Elkin|December 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I venture to hope that historian and sociologist may find valuable facts and suggestions in this book.
The New Stone Age in Northern Europe|John M. Tyler
They would indeed suggest very interesting topics to the general historian or 'sociologist.'
The English Utilitarians, Volume I.|Leslie Stephen
He was a sociologist—a loose title which covers a great deal of inquisitive investigation into other people's affairs.
The Angel of Terror|Edgar Wallace
But it is the amateur sociologist alone who is able to give us a nightmare.
The Unpopular Review Vol. I|Various
Hamsun the sociologist is not on a par with Hamsun the poet.
Knut Hamsun|Hanna Astrup Larsen

British Dictionary definitions for sociology

sociology

/ (ˌsəʊsɪˈɒlədʒɪ) /

noun

the study of the development, organization, functioning, and classification of human societies

Derived forms of sociology

sociological (ˌsəʊsɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjectivesociologically, adverbsociologist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for sociology

sociology

[ sō′sē-ŏl′ə-jē ]

The scientific study of human social behavior and its origins, development, organizations, and institutions.

Cultural definitions for sociology

sociology

The systematic study of human society, especially present-day societies. Sociologists study the organization, institutions, and development of societies, with a particular interest in identifying causes of the changing relationships among individuals and groups. (See social science.)

sociology

Origin of sociology

OTHER WORDS FROM sociology

Words related to sociology

How to use sociology in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sociology

Derived forms of sociology

Scientific definitions for sociology

Cultural definitions for sociology