sociologist

American  

[soh-see-ahl-uhj-ist, soh-shee-ahl-uhj-ist] / ˌsoʊ siˈɑl ədʒ ɪst, ˌsoʊ ʃiˈɑl ədʒ ɪst /

noun

plural

sociologists

1. an expert in sociology.

---

Other Word Forms

• sociologism noun

Explanation

A sociologist studies how people act within societies and other groups. If you're interested in issues like gender roles, crime, or the way families interact, you might want to be a sociologist. Sociology is a social science that examines the way people work in groups, and sociologists are scientists who practice sociology. Any topic that's connected to society falls under a sociologist's expertise, including social class, family structures, religious customs, war and conflict, and much more. The word sociologist comes from sociology and its Latin root socius, "associate."

Example Sentences

But sociologist Jessica Calarco, who teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is the author of “Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net,” is not surprised.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

To connect maternal regret with unloving and neglectful parenting is a careless assumption, according to Israeli sociologist Orna Donath, author of Regretting Motherhood: A Study.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

That take seems unduly alarmist said David Goldblatt, a British sportswriter and sociologist who is a visiting professor at Pitzer College in Claremont.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

"When people feel their livelihoods are threatened, support for radical positions is more likely," sociologist Ivan Balabanic said.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

The Barnetts belonged to a small elite group referred to by the esteemed black sociologist St. Clair Drake as “the Refined.”

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield