soft science

noun

any of the specialized fields or disciplines, as psychology, sociology, anthropology, or political science, that interpret human behavior, institutions, society, etc., on the basis of scientific investigations for which it may be difficult to establish strictly measurable criteria.

soft science

noun

a science, such as sociology or anthropology, that deals with humans as its principle subject matter, and is therefore not generally considered to be based on rigorous experimentation

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Word History and Origins

Origin of soft science¹

First recorded in 1965–70

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Compare Meanings

How does soft science compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

hard science vs. soft science

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“There’s a lot of soft science of what makes a consumer feel like something is durable,” she told Grist.

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His alleged offense, Insel says, was focusing on the "soft science" of attachment rather than the "hard science" of motor control or visual processing.

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“It’s a soft science,” said Jamila Hodge, a former D.C. federal prosecutor who runs the Vera Institute program.

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“Compassion is no longer a ‘soft’ science.”

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Isn't the study of leadership a soft science?

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soft scale soft sculpture

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