economics

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Now chiefly home economics: the art or science of household management, especially relating to the appropriate organization of resources; housekeeping.

   Thus Logick, Phyſicks, Metaphyſicks, are the burden of Volumes, and the dayly entertainment of the Diſputing Schools: vvhile the more profitable doctrines of the Heavens, Meteors, Minerals, Animals; as alſo the more practical ones of Politicks, and Oeconomicks, are ſcarce ſo much as glanc'd at.

2. 2
   noun

   The study of resource and wealth allocation, consumption, and distribution, of capital and investment, and of management of the factors of production.

   Mary studied economics for five years before going into banking.

3. 3
   noun

   the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management

4. 4
   noun

   plural of economic (“one who is skilled in household management; (Christianity, historical) one who manages the income of a vacant benefice”).

Etymology

From economic (noun) (obsolete) + -s (suffix forming pluralia tantum, and regular plural forms of nouns). Economic is derived from Middle English economike, iconomique (“household management”), and then: * from Middle French iconomique, oeconomique, and Old French iconomike (“(noun) household management; person in charge of household management; (adjective) relating to household management; relating to domestic or family matters; relating to management of a state; reducing costs or expenses, economical”) (modern French économique); and * from their etymon Latin oeconomicus (“(noun) household m…