economics

noun

eco·​nom·​ics ˌe-kə-ˈnä-miks  ˌē-kə- 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

1

a

: a social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services

b

: economic theory, principles, or practices

sound economics

2

: economic aspect or significance

the economics of building a new stadium

3

: economic conditions

current economics

Examples of economics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The proposal threatens to cost Harvard about $850 million a year, Yale $690 million a year, and Princeton $586 million a year, according to estimates by Phillip Levine, an economics professor at Wellesley College, which would also be subject to the tax. —Stephanie Saul, New York Times, 20 May 2025

Lee Ohanian, an economics professor at UCLA, suspects the U.S. will be able to reach agreements with other countries to keep potential tariff disruptions at a minimum. —Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025

An airline needs to fill most of the seats on the plane, and at a decent price, to make the economics work. —Edward Russell, CNN Money, 9 May 2025

This is economics 101 and the business cycle of expansion, peak, contraction, trough. —Harry Kraemer, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

earlier oeconomicks "science or art of managing a household" from oeconomick, economike in same sense (Middle English iconomique, borrowed from Middle French yconomique, borrowed from Medieval Latin economica, feminine singular or neuter plural of oeconomicus "relating to the management of a household") + -ics — more at economic

Note: Compare ancient Greek oikonomikḗ "practice of household, administrative or economic management," oikonomiká (neuter plural) "administrative affairs."

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing economics

• geo-economics
• home economics
• new economics
• supply-side economics

Rhymes for economics

• bionomics
• ergonomics
• atomics
• bombyx
• comics
• macroeconomics
• microeconomics

Kids Definition

economics

singular or plural noun

ec·​o·​nom·​ics

ˌek-ə-ˈnäm-iks,

ˌē-kə-

1

: a social science concerned with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services

2

: financial considerations

the economics of buying a house

economist

i-ˈkän-ə-məst

noun