Who is credited with coining the term 'sociology'?

Auguste Comte is credited with coining the term 'sociology' in the early 19th century. He introduced the term in his work "Cours de Philosophie Positive" published in 1830-1842, where he envisioned sociology as a new science that would study society and social phenomena through a systematic and scientific approach. Comte believed that sociology would provide a framework for understanding complex social dynamics and help in the betterment of society. His contributions laid the foundational principles of sociology as a distinct discipline, leading to the development of various sociological theories and methodologies that followed. His focus on positivism, the idea that knowledge should be based on observable phenomena, has influenced the way sociology is studied and practiced.