n 1  :  a branch of sociology concerned esp. with the study of the spatial and temporal interrelationships between human beings and their economic, social, and political organization  2  :  the ecology of human communities and populations esp. as concerned with preservation of environmental quality (as of air or water) through proper application of conservation and civil engineering practices .
 
 
 
Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.  © 1997-2024.