dismal science: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Medium (C1-C2)Formal/Humorous
Quick answer
What does “dismal science” mean?
A nickname for the field of economics.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A nickname for the field of economics.
A critical, ironic, or humorous term suggesting that economics is inherently pessimistic because it studies human behavior under constraints like scarcity, often leading to gloomy predictions and focusing on trade-offs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is consistent and identical in both varieties; it is a term from the shared history of English economic thought.
Connotations
Sardonic, intellectual, critical. Sometimes used affectionately by economists themselves.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in academic, journalistic, and intellectual discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “dismal science” in a Sentence
[the] dismal science [verb: is/called/predicts/suggests]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dismal science” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The article offered a typically dismal-science perspective on public spending.
American English
- His analysis had a dismal-science rigor to it, focusing solely on costs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in commentary or opinion pieces to critique economic forecasts or models.
Academic
Used in economic history or methodology discussions, often to reference Thomas Carlyle's coinage.
Everyday
Rare. Might appear in sophisticated newspapers or podcasts.
Technical
Not used in formal technical economic writing (e.g., econometrics papers), but in meta-discussions about the field.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dismal science”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dismal science”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dismal science”
- Using it without 'the' (e.g., 'He studies dismal science').
- Using it to refer to other social sciences like sociology.
- Capitalising it incorrectly (not a proper noun: 'the dismal science', not 'The Dismal Science').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Scottish essayist and historian Thomas Carlyle, in an 1849 essay criticizing the economic ideas of John Stuart Mill.
Primarily negatively or ironically. It's a critique, though some economists now use it with self-deprecating humour.
Generally not in core analysis, but it could be appropriate in an introductory or concluding remark about the perception of the field.
It is a nickname for economics, not a perfect synonym. Using it carries the extra connotation of critique or irony about the field's perceived pessimism.
A nickname for the field of economics.
Dismal science: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɪz.məl ˈsaɪ.əns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɪz.məl ˈsaɪ.əns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a gloomy, grey-clouded scientist (an economist) looking at charts that all predict shortages and saying, "It's dismal." The science of dismal forecasts.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/DISCIPLINE IS AN EMOTIONAL STATE (a pessimistic, gloomy one).
Practice
Quiz
Why is economics sometimes called 'the dismal science'?