[ad. F. sociologie (Comte): see SOCIO- 2 and -LOGY.] The science or study of the origin, history and constitution of human society; social science.
1843. Blackw. Mag., LIII. 397. These are to constitute a new science, to be called Social Ethics, or Sociology.
1851. Fraser’s Mag., XLIV. 452. The new science of sociology, as it is barbarously termed.
1873. Spencer, Stud. Sociol., iii. 59. Sociology has to recognize truths of social development, structure and function.
