n.
Pronunciation: ˌ s ō -s ē - ' ä-l ə -j ē , ˌ s ō -sh ē -
Function: noun
Etymology: French sociologie, from socio- + -logie -logy
Date: 1843
1 : the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships specifically : the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings
2 : the scientific analysis of a social institution as a functioning whole and as it relates to the rest of society
3 : SYNECOLOGY
– so · ci · ol · o · gist \ -jist \ noun