Word

sociology

noun C1

/ˌsəʊsiːˈɒləd͡ʒiː/

Meanings

noun

the academic study of society, social behavior, and social institutions

noun

the theories and methods used to analyze social life and social problems

Definition

Sociology is the study of human society, social relationships, and social institutions.

Sociology is an academic field that examines how people behave in groups and how societies are organized. It looks at institutions such as family, education, religion, and politics, as well as issues like inequality and social change. Sociologists use research methods to understand patterns in social life and how they affect individuals.

Examples

She chose sociology because she wanted to understand how inequality persists across generations.
In our seminar, sociology helped us connect everyday habits to larger social norms.
He applies sociology to workplace culture, focusing on informal rules that shape team behavior.
They used sociology to interpret interview data about migration and belonging in the city.
I found sociology challenging at first, but the research methods made the arguments more convincing.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse sociology with psychology, but sociology focuses on groups and social structures rather than individual mental processes.