[so.ci.ol.o.gy] n [F sociologie, fr. socio- + -logie -logy] (1843) 1: the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships; specif: 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 n