sociology

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

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌsəʊsiːˈɒlədʒiː/, IPA^(key): /ˌsəʊʃiːˈɒlədʒiː/

sociology (plural sociologies)

1. The study of society, human social interaction and the rules and processes that bind and separate people not only as individuals, but as members of associations, groups and institutions

• anthropology
• psychology

• "sociology" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 295.