Science is the study of the physical world using observation and experiment; also, a branch of organised knowledge in a particular field (e.g. computer science, political science).
What Does Science Mean?
Science entered English in the 14th century from Old French science, which came from Latin scientia — meaning "knowledge" — derived from the verb scire (to know). In its earliest English uses the word simply meant "knowledge" or "learning". Over the following centuries it narrowed to its modern sense: knowledge gained through systematic observation, hypothesis, and experiment.
Today science covers three broad domains. Natural sciences — physics, chemistry, and biology — study the physical and living world. Formal sciences — mathematics, logic, computer science — deal with abstract systems. Social sciences — psychology, sociology, economics — apply scientific methods to human behaviour and society. All three rely on evidence, reproducibility, and the willingness to revise conclusions when new data emerges.
In everyday English science is often uncountable and used without an article: "Science shows that exercise improves mood." When referring to a specific field it becomes countable: "Biology is a science." The plural the sciences is common in academic writing and school timetables.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & Usage note |
|---|---|
| I like science at school because we do fun experiments. | A2 — science as a school subject, uncountable |
| She reads science articles in English to build specialist vocabulary. | B1 — science as a modifier (science articles) |
| The science behind climate change is well established and widely accepted. | B1 — the science of something, definite article |
| Computer science has transformed nearly every industry over the past two decades. | B2 — compound noun, countable field of study |
| Without rigorous peer review, a finding cannot truly be said to have entered the corpus of science. | C1 — formal/academic register, uncountable abstract noun |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| do science | Children learn best when they actually do science rather than just read about it. |
| study science | She decided to study science at university after winning a regional chemistry prize. |
| applied science | Applied science uses research findings to solve real-world engineering problems. |
| natural science | The museum has a dedicated natural science gallery covering geology and ecology. |
| computer science | He graduated with a first-class degree in computer science. |
| science fiction | Many technologies we use today were imagined first in science fiction novels. |
| science fair | Her project on water filtration won first place at the regional science fair. |
| cutting-edge science | The institute is known for producing cutting-edge science in genomics. |
| science lesson / class | The teacher made every science lesson feel like an adventure. |
| advance science | Open access publishing helps advance science by making research freely available. |
Usage Notes
Key Points for ESL Learners
Uncountable (general): Use without an article when referring to science as a discipline or activity: "Science relies on evidence." / "She loves science."
Countable (specific field): Use with an article or in the plural when naming a discipline: "Physics is a science." / "The sciences are well-funded at this university."
"The science" (definite article): Use the science when referring to the body of research on a specific topic: "The science of nutrition has changed significantly." This is very common in journalism and formal writing.
Science as a modifier: Science frequently modifies another noun without a hyphen: science lesson, science teacher, science museum, science degree, science park.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
The science says that vaccines are safe. (incorrect — too casual; omit the article when speaking in general)
Science says that vaccines are safe. (general statement — no article needed)
The science on vaccine safety is clear. (specific body of research — definite article correct here)
She studies the science at school. (incorrect — school subject, no article)
She studies science at school.
He is a science teacher of chemistry. (incorrect word order)
He is a chemistry teacher. / He teaches science, specifically chemistry.