sociology

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

/ ˌsoʊ siˈɒl ə dʒi, ˌsoʊ ʃi- /

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

Origin of sociology

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

Related formsso·ci·ol·o·gist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sociology

One of the lefties she met was a sociology instructor named Philip Rieff, whom she married after a 10-day courtship.
Still Desperately Seeking Susan Sontag|Allen Barra|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My theory is that it has to do with history, sociology, and psychology.
The Ghastly ‘Maleficent’ and Why It’s Time For Hollywood to Kill the Dark Reboot|Andrew Romano|May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her father was a sociology and education professor at UCLA; her mother was “a homemaker with creative tendencies.”
Kim Gordon: Going Solo After Sonic Youth, and Why She Identifies With ‘Girls’|Andrew Romano|April 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Skidmore University is offering a new sociology course called, “The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender, and Media.”
Miley Cyrus Twerk 101 and College Classes About Celebrities|Marina Watts|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame” is a course at the University of South Carolina.
Miley Cyrus Twerk 101 and College Classes About Celebrities|Marina Watts|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On this point sociology—especially the sociology of sex—must frankly admit its mistakes and break with much of its cherished past.
Taboo and Genetics|Melvin Moses Knight, Iva Lowther Peters, and Phyllis Mary Blanchard
Seor M—— was a very entertaining man, had traveled all over the world, and appeared to have a good knowledge of sociology.
Journeys and Experiences in Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile|Henry Stephens
Would you favor turning over the government to control of experts as soon as sociology became a positive science?
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park
If he had little psychology he had not even a conception of 'sociology.'
The English Utilitarians, Volume I.|Leslie Stephen
Well, digging back in my sociology courses, I would say it was upper-lower class, if there is such a classification.
Warren Commission (11 of 26): Hearings Vol. XI (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

British Dictionary definitions for sociology

sociology

/ (ˌsəʊsɪˈɒlədʒɪ) /

noun

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

Derived Formssociological (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

Word Origin and History for sociology

sociology

the science of social phenomena, 1843, from French sociologie, a hybrid coined 1830 by French philosopher Isidore Auguste Comte (1798-1857), from Latin socius "associate" (see social (adj.)) + Greek-derived suffix -logie (see -logy).

Science definitions for sociology

sociology

[ sō′sē-ŏl′ə-jē ]

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

Culture 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

noun

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Origin of sociology

Examples from the Web for sociology

sociology

noun

sociology

sociology

sociology