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
Over a decade ago, Meta – then known as Facebook – hired social science researchers to analyze how the social network’s services were affecting users.
—
Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
The decision bars introductory sociology from the state’s general-education catalog — the set of foundational courses all students must complete, regardless of major, across subjects such as math, science, humanities and social sciences.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Low teacher morale directly affects students, said Alex Robins, a social science teacher at Terra Linda High School in San Rafael.
—Diana Lambert, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
The bill, called the National Weather Safety Board Act, calls for an independent board of at least seven members appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, with backgrounds in meteorology, social sciences and emergency management, among other disciplines.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for social science
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
The decision bars introductory sociology from the state’s general-education catalog — the set of foundational courses all students must complete, regardless of major, across subjects such as math, science, humanities and social sciences.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Low teacher morale directly affects students, said Alex Robins, a social science teacher at Terra Linda High School in San Rafael.
—Diana Lambert, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
The bill, called the National Weather Safety Board Act, calls for an independent board of at least seven members appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, with backgrounds in meteorology, social sciences and emergency management, among other disciplines.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for social science
Cite this Entry
“Social science.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20science. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
