sociologist

American  

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

noun

plural

sociologists

1. an expert in sociology.

---

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

But sociologist Jessica Calarco, who teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is the author of “Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net,” is not surprised.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

"Bigfoot exists - at least as a known object that people shape their lives around," said Dr Jamie Lewis, sociologist at Cardiff University.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

It said sociologist and civil rights activist Ghorban Abbasi in Naghadeh in west Azarbaijan province had been detained and taken to an unspecified location.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

That take seems unduly alarmist said David Goldblatt, a British sportswriter and sociologist who is a visiting professor at Pitzer College in Claremont.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

Perhaps the best explanation we have of this process comes from the sociologist Annette Lareau, who a few years ago conducted a fascinating study of a group of third graders.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell