What does sociology mean?
Sociology is the systematic study of society and human social life. It examines how people form relationships, create institutions, organize communities, and respond to social forces such as class, gender, race, religion, and political power. The discipline combines theoretical perspectives with empirical research, including surveys, interviews, observation, and analysis of social statistics. Sociology can focus on large-scale institutions, such as education, family, government, and the economy, or on smaller forms of social interaction. Although the field is closely related to social science as a whole, sociology is especially associated with questions about social structure, collective behavior, and the relationship between individuals and society. The word is useful because it encourages a broader perspective, showing that personal experiences are often shaped by wider social patterns and institutions.
nounThe study of society, social relationships, institutions, and the ways in which human groups organize and behave.
- The academic study of society, social relationships, institutions, and human social behavior.
- The study of the structures, processes, and patterns of social organization.
"The lecture explored how inequality shapes social institutions and everyday life."
"She studied sociology at university and now researches migration and urbanization."
"The book applies sociology to examine how public policies affect families and communities."
Uncommon. It may refer to different sociological traditions, frameworks, or bodies of research.
"The seminar compared several sociologies of punishment and incarceration."
Sociology turns the question “Why do people behave this way?” into a systematic study of society.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sociology come from?
Sociology was coined in the early 19th century by the French philosopher Auguste Comte, who combined the Latin socius, meaning companion or associate, with the Greek logos, meaning study of. The underlying idea of society is related to Latin socius and to English forms such as social, society, and sociable. In its earliest uses, sociology referred broadly to the philosophical study of society, and it later developed into the academic discipline now associated with empirical social research.
Related word forms
How sociology is actually used
In academic contexts, sociology is generally used as an uncountable noun for the discipline. The plural is uncommon but can refer to distinct sociological frameworks or studies.