sociology

sociology — noun

1. the academic study of how human societies are organized, how people behave in gr

1.nounB2
Definition

the academic study of how human societies are organized, how people behave in groups, and how social structures such as families, schools, and governments affect people's lives

Example

Feng chose to study sociology after working with poor families in his city.

collocation: study sociology

The sociology department at City University is studying how online groups influence young people.

sociology department + studying [topic]

Common collocations
  • study sociology
  • sociology department
  • sociology professor
  • sociology course
  • sociology project
  • degree in sociology
  • sociology of education / family / religion
Synonyms
  • social science

    a broader category that includes sociology, economics, political science, and anthropology

  • social studies

    a more general school-level subject covering sociology, history, and geography together

Grammar Patterns

sociology + of + noun phrase

in + sociology

Usage Note

Sociology is an uncountable noun, so it does not normally appear with 'a' or 'an'. You can say 'a degree in sociology' or 'the sociology of education', but not 'a sociology'.

Common Mistakes

I am studying a sociology at university.
I am studying sociology at university.
Sociology is uncountable and does not take 'a'.

Word family

  • sociologist
    nounB2
  • sociological
    adjectiveC1
  • sociologically
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four fields examine human behaviour, but they do so from different angles. Sociology focuses on group structures, institutions, and large-scale social patterns. Anthropology often studies cultures and communities, including traditional or non-industrial societies, through direct observation. Psychology looks at individual mental processes, emotions, and personal development. Social work is a practical profession that helps individuals and families cope with problems such as poverty or abuse. For example, a sociologist might study why crime rates rise in certain neighbourhoods, while a psychologist would examine the personal experiences of a single offender, and a social worker would help that person find housing and counselling.

sociology ↗anthropology ↗psychology ↗social work

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the sociology of education
  • the sociology of the family
  • a BA / MA / PhD in sociology

Prepositions

  • in sociology
  • of sociology

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'sociology' was created in the 1830s by French philosopher Auguste Comte. He combined the Latin word 'socius', meaning 'companion' or 'ally', with the Greek suffix '-logia', meaning 'study of'. Comte believed that human society could be studied scientifically, just like nature, and he called this new field 'sociologie' in French. The English form 'sociology' became common in the mid-1800s.