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

Stanford economics professor Nicholas Bloom told the Wall Street Journal in August that workplace flexibility was worth the equivalent of an 8% pay raise. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024

Michael Reich is an economics professor and chair of UC Berkeley’s Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. —Justin Wiltshire, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024

Even the organizers of art fairs often struggle to make their economics work. —Pearl Lam, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

In Europe, the EU has passed laws and set up a special agency to regulate dominant digital platforms, says Fiona Scott Morton, an economics professor at the Yale School of Management. —Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024

Jordan McGillis is the economics editor of City Journal and a Young Voices contributor. —Jordan McGillis, Orange County Register, 11 Mar. 2024

The belief that inflation’s fix is a function of putting people out of work is accepted wisdom in the economics profession, along with a pundit profession that enables the routine abuse of reason. —John Tamny, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024

An economics teacher at Cardinal Gibbons High School, Davis operates Gladesman Outfitters (www.gladesmanoutfitters.com), which offers hunts for ducks, doves, wild hogs, wild turkeys and exotic game as well as fishing trips for everything from trout, redfish and snook to dolphin, wahoo and tuna. —Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

Convention impact is overstated, econ professor says National political conventions' economic impact is overstated, said Victor Matheson, an economics professor at The College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts. —Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 29 Feb. 2024

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

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

Kids Definition

economics

noun singular or plural

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