economics

economics — noun

1. an academic field that examines how people, businesses, and governments decide t

1.名詞B2
釋義

an academic field that examines how people, businesses, and governments decide to use limited resources when producing, trading, and using goods and services

例句

Vikram chose to study economics at university to understand how global trade works.

uncountable noun for academic subject

The textbook showed how supply and demand affect prices of rice and cooking oil.

同義詞
  • economic science

    more formal and less common in everyday conversation; used mainly in academic contexts

  • economic theory

    refers more narrowly to the principles and models rather than the whole field of study

  • political economy

    historical term emphasizing the link between politics and economics; less common in modern usage

用法筆記

Although economics ends in -s, it is treated as a singular uncountable noun in standard English (e.g., Economics is my favourite subject).

常見錯誤

❌I study economic at university.
✅I study economics at university.
💡the noun form for the academic subject is economics, not economic.
❌The economics are complex.
✅The economics is complex.
💡economics takes a singular verb even though it ends in -s.

2. the financial factors, costs, and potential profits that affect whether a plan,

2.名詞B2
釋義

the financial factors, costs, and potential profits that affect whether a plan, project, or business is worth doing

例句

The bakery's economics do not add up with such high rent in this district.

pattern: the economics of [activity]

Rania studied the economics of solar energy before installing panels on her house.

同義詞
  • financial aspects

    more general and less technical; can refer to any financial side of a situation

  • cost-benefit analysis

    refers specifically to the method of weighing costs against benefits, not just the financial factors themselves

  • financial viability

    focuses on whether something can succeed financially, a narrower meaning than economics

文法句型

the economics of + noun phrase

用法筆記

In this sense, economics is plural in meaning and is typically preceded by the definite article in the pattern the economics of + noun phrase. The verb that follows is plural (e.g., the economics of the plan are questionable), unlike sense 1 which always takes a singular verb.

常見錯誤

❌We need to examine the economic of this project.
✅We need to examine the economics of this project.
💡when referring to the financial factors of a specific activity, use the plural form economics, not the adjective economic.
❌The economics of the plan is uncertain.
✅The economics of the plan are uncertain.
💡in this sense, economics takes a plural verb because it refers to multiple factors.