Main Entry:

so·ci·ol·o·gy

Pronunciation:

\ˌsō-sē-ˈä-lə-jē, ˌsō-shē-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French sociologie, from socio- + -logie -logy

Date:

1843

1: the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships ; specifically : the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings2: the scientific analysis of a social institution as a functioning whole and as it relates to the rest of society3: synecology

— so·ci·ol·o·gist \-jist\ noun