social science

noun

1

: a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society

2

: a science (such as economics or political science) dealing with a particular phase or aspect of human society

social scientist noun

Examples of social science in a Sentence

Economics is a social science.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two years later, a social science experiment revealed that students who visit art exhibits demonstrate higher critical thinking, empathy, and social tolerance skills than those who don’t. —Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025

Marika Manos, manager of history and social science for the county education department, said Santa Ana and Anaheim Union were early adopters of ethnic studies requirements. —Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025

Discovery fueled by curiosity has been a driving force for technological, medical and social science research and advances. —Sheldon Jacobson, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025

But that didn’t mean giving up his interest in social science. —Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for social science

• appliance
• compliance
• defiance
• reliance
• geoscience
• neuroscience
• noncompliance
• pseudoscience

Kids Definition

social science

noun

1

: a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society

2

: a science (as economics) dealing with a particular side of human society

Medical Definition

social science

noun

1

: a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society

2

: a science (as anthropology or social psychology) dealing with a particular phase or aspect of human society