ekistics

noun

ekis·​tics i-ˈki-stiks 

plural in form but singular in construction

: a science dealing with human settlements and drawing on the research and experience of professionals in various fields (such as architecture, engineering, city planning, and sociology)

ekistic

i-ˈki-stik 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Modern Greek oikistikē, from feminine of oikistikos of settlement, from Greek, from oikizein to settle, colonize, from oikos house — more at vicinity

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above