social science

noun

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of social science

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

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social scientist

noun

See social science defined for English-language learners

See social science defined for kids

Examples of social science in a Sentence

Economics is a social science.

Recent Examples of social science from the Web

The disciplines associated with the program will include literature, creative arts, African American studies, science, education, business, communications, social sciences, computer science and engineering.

— gerrick d. kennedy, latimes.com, "Beyoncé announces $100,000 in scholarships to black colleges," 16 Apr. 2018
Qualifying applicants must maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA, and study literature, creative arts, African-American studies, science, education, business, communications, social sciences, computer science, and/or engineering.

— emily wang, Teen Vogue, "Beyoncé Announces Homecoming Scholars Award Program Following Coachella," 16 Apr. 2018
San Marcos middle and high schools may lose seven English teachers, six math teachers, six social science teachers and 14 other positions for classes including science, foreign languages, career technical education and independent study.

— deborah sullivan brennan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Marcos schools warn teachers of layoffs," 22 Mar. 2018
Cordova and Zuber, who is also vice president for research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, disagreed, citing historical examples of ways social science research helped boost the economy and strengthen national defense.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Reporter’s Notebook: House budget hearing shows science chairman’s impact on NSF peer review," 16 Mar. 2018
His expertise is in philosophy and methodology of the social sciences.

— david jesse, Detroit Free Press, "U-M Dearborn chancellor to step down after 18 years on the job," 18 Feb. 2018
In a paper published last week in the social science journal Contexts, Heaney compares the politics of participants in 10 marches held last year in Washington, D.C.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Got data? Survey of 2017 March for Science doesn’t make the grade," 9 Apr. 2018
Under the new initiative, social science researchers will propose research projects for peer review.

— russell brandom, The Verge, "Facebook will give researchers new data to study election interference," 9 Apr. 2018
In the 230 or so years since the Constitution was written, social science has developed sophisticated ways of estimating populations without literally counting every single person.

— dara lind, Vox, "The citizenship question on the 2020 census, explained," 28 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'social science.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of social science

circa 1770

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

SOCIAL SCIENCE Defined for English Language Learners

social science

noun

Definition of social science for English Language Learners

: the study of human society
: a particular area of study that relates to human behavior and society

Medical Dictionary

social science

noun

medical Definition of social science

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