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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Eileen Graham, associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University School of Medicine, added that the pandemic likely made people more vulnerable to isolation. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024 But modeling is still a side job; a student of social sciences, Tage lives with his family in Stockholm. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2024 There is ongoing research at the interface of meteorology and social sciences to answer such questions. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 October 10, 2024 There was a time when business leaders and managers didn’t worry so much about psychology or other social science research. Harvard Business Review, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for social science 

Word History

First Known Use

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of social science was in 1746

Dictionary Entries Near social science

Cite this Entry

“Social science.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20science. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on social science

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