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

Their remit is futuristic, but their procedures recall the freewheeling social science of the Stanford prison experiment or Stanley Milgram’s shock treatments. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026

Among the programs being cut is Bridges to Baccalaureate, which provided undergraduate research opportunities and transfer student mentoring for Latino and low-income students in the behavioral and social sciences, and one called Destino that helped prepare STEM students for the workforce. —Olivia Sanchez, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Participants include developers, engineers, ethicists, lawyers, and social science researchers. —IEEE Spectrum, 2 Feb. 2026

And in the early ’60s, there was great faith in social science. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026

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