Sociology Definition

sōsē-ŏlə-jē, -shē-

noun

The science of human society and of social relations, organization, and change; specif., the study of the beliefs, values, etc. of societal groups and of the processes governing social phenomena.

Webster's New World

Analysis of a social institution or societal segment as a self-contained entity or in relation to society as a whole.

American Heritage

Synecology.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
study of human groups
autecology
analysis of human institutions
social-psychology
social-anthropology
synecology

Other Word Forms of Sociology

Noun

Singular:

sociology

Plural:

sociologies

Origin of Sociology

From French sociologie, coined by Auguste Comte in 1834. Previous mentions of the field in English usually referred to it as social physics.

From Wiktionary
French sociologie socio- socio- -logie study (from Greek -logiā –logy)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition