Social means relating to society or to the way society is organized.
...the worst effects of unemployment, low pay and other social problems.
...long-term social change.
...the acceptance that social conditions influenced crime.
...changing social attitudes.
...the tightly woven social fabric of small towns.
...research into housing and social policy.
Synonyms: communal, community, collective, group More Synonyms of social
sociallyadverb [ADVERB adjective/-ed]
Let's face it–drinking is still viewed as a socially acceptable habit.
...one of the most socially deprived areas in Britain.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Social means relating to the status or rank that someone has in society.
Higher education is unequally distributed across social classes.
The guests came from all social backgrounds.
Morisot and Degas moved in the same social circles.
...a prosperous upper-middle-class couple with social aspirations.
sociallyadverb [usually ADVERB adjective/-ed]
For socially ambitious couples this is a problem.
...socially disadvantaged children.
I felt there was a lot of pressure on me to achieve, both academically and socially.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Social means relating to leisure activities that involve meeting other people.
We ought to organize more social events.
Social activities might include walking tours of the Old Town.
Synonyms: sociable, friendly, companionable, neighbourly More Synonyms of social
sociallyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
We have known each other socially for a long time.
The two groups rarely meet socially.
Socially I found him delightful.
4. countable noun
A social is a party, dance, or informal gathering that is organized for the members of a club or institution.
[old-fashioned]
...church socials.
Synonyms: get-together [informal], party, gathering, function More Synonyms of social
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Social animals live in groups and do things together.
These endangered gentle giants are highly social animals.
...social insects like bees and ants.
Synonyms: organized, gregarious, interactional More Synonyms of social
social in British English
(ˈsəʊʃəl)
adjective
1.
living or preferring to live in a community rather than alone
2.
denoting or relating to human society or any of its subdivisions
3.
of, relating to, or characteristic of the experience, behaviour, and interaction of persons forming groups
4.
relating to or having the purpose of promoting companionship, communal activities, etc
a social club
5.
relating to or engaged in social services
a social worker
6.
relating to or considered appropriate to a certain class of society, esp one thought superior
7.
(esp of certain species of insects) living together in organized colonies
social bees
Compare solitary (sense 6)
8.
(of plant species) growing in clumps, usually over a wide area
noun
9.
an informal gathering, esp of an organized group, to promote companionship, communal activity, etc
10. short for social media
Derived forms
socially (ˈsocially)
adverb
socialness (ˈsocialness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin sociālis companionable, from socius a comrade
social in American English
(ˈsoʊʃəl)
adjective
1.
of or having to do with human beings living together as a group in a situation in which their dealings with one another affect their common welfare
social consciousness, social problems
2.
living in this way; gregarious
man as a social being
3.
of or having to do with the ranks or activities of society, specif. the more exclusive or fashionable of these
a social event
4.
getting along well with others; sociable
a social nature
5.
of, for, or involving friends, companionship, or sociability
a social club
6.
offering material aid, counseling services, group recreational activities, etc. to those who need it; of or engaged in welfare work
a social worker or agency
7.
living or associating in groups or communities
the ant is a social insect
8. Rare
of or between allies or confederates
a social war
9. Botany
growing in clumps or masses
noun
10.
an informal gathering of people for recreation or amusement; party
Derived forms
socially (ˈsocially)
adverb
Word origin
< Fr or L: Fr < L socialis < socius, companion, akin to sequi, to follow < IE base *sekw-, to follow > OE secg, man, warrior
Examples of 'social' in a sentence
social
Heartbroken friends left flowers near the murder scene and paid tribute on social media websites.
The Sun (2013)
Others seek to enhance social welfare and promote peace.
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
They were standing around in small groups having a social chat.
The Sun (2011)
We have people looking at social networking sites.
The Sun (2012)
She worked as a social worker at a school for young offenders.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The social experiences have been so valuable.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And it is a tight social grouping rather than being drawn from all backgrounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They were far less likely to claim benefits and tax credits or live in social housing.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The test of social security is how it treats the sick and disabled.
The Sun (2013)
Not all of the movement between or restriction within social class will be directly due to illness.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
Smokers have a keen eye for social change.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He was quick to put ads on his website and use social media.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Perhaps only in the military are these social groups truly forced to live with each other.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We had to overcome our shyness or fear of people and social situations.
Shapiro, Jean Get the Best out of the Rest of Your Life (1990)
It is the prerogative of a certain social class.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is a social experience for most people.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They live on his social security payments and food stamps.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The most important aspect of social support at work is that it should provide a sense of belonging.
Atkinson, Jacqueline M Coping with Stress at Work (1988)
The force is being increasingly infested with coppers who want to be social workers rather than thief takers.
The Sun (2008)
Their social media activity isn't exactly subtle.
The Sun (2014)
As part of his social education, the young knight learned to compose and sing poetry.
Christianity Today (2000)
It's one of life's pleasures and a social activity for me.
The Sun (2012)
He knows how I dance, and he is with me in a way that other social dancing friends cannotbe.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
social
British English: social /ˈsəʊʃəl/ ADJECTIVE
Social means relating to society.
...unemployment, low pay and other social problems.
American English: social
Arabic: اجْتِمَاعِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: social
Chinese: 社会的
Croatian: socijalan
Czech: společenský akce, systém
Danish: social
Dutch: sociaal
European Spanish: social
Finnish: sosiaalinen
French: social
German: sozial
Greek: κοινωνικός
Italian: sociale
Japanese: 社会の
Korean: 사회적인
Norwegian: sosial
Polish: społeczny
European Portuguese: social
Romanian: social
Russian: социальный
Latin American Spanish: social
Swedish: social
Thai: ทางสังคม
Turkish: sosyal
Ukrainian: соціальний
Vietnamese: có tính tập thể
All related terms of 'social'
anti-social
Someone who is anti-social is unwilling to meet and be friendly with other people.
box social
a fund-raising event at which donated box meals are auctioned
social bee
any of several bees , as the honeybees or bumblebees, that live together in communities
social club
A social club is a club where members go in order to meet each other and enjoy leisure activities.
social evil
anything detrimental to a society or its citizens , as alcoholism , organized crime , etc
social fund
(in Britain) a social security fund from which loans or payments may be made to people in cases of extreme need
social life
Your social life involves spending time with your friends, for example at parties or in pubs or bars.
social norm
Norms are ways of behaving that are considered normal in a particular society.
social unit
a person or a group of persons, as a family, functioning as a unit in society
social wasp
any of several wasps , as the hornets or yellowjackets, that live together in a community
social work
Social work is work which involves giving help and advice to people with serious family problems or financial problems.
social action
individual or group behavior that involves interaction with other individuals or groups, esp. organized action toward social reform
social change
If there is a change in something, it becomes different.
social circle
a group of people who are socially connected
social class
a broad group in society having common economic , cultural , or political status
social column
a column in a newspaper or magazine that details the activities of members of fashionable society
Social Credit
(esp in Canada ) a right-wing populist political party, movement, or doctrine based on the socioeconomic theories of Major C. H. Douglas ; the federal party in Canada was dissolved in 1993
social gaming
Social gaming is the activity of playing online games with other members of the same online group.
Social Gospel
a movement among some U.S. Protestants beginning around 1870, seeking to eliminate poverty , ignorance , etc. by reforming society according to Christian principles
social issue
An issue is an important subject that people are arguing about or discussing .
social market
an economic system in which industry and commerce are run by private enterprise within limits set by the government to ensure equality of opportunity and social and environmental responsibility
social media
Social media refers to websites and computer programs that make communication possible with the use of computers or mobile phones . Social media can take the singular or plural form of the verb .
social misfit
a person who does not conform to others' views of what is normal or acceptable in society
social order
The social order in a place is the way that society is organized there.
social phobia
a type of anxiety disorder characterized by shyness and heightened self-consciousness in particular social situations
social scene
You can refer to an area of activity as a particular type of scene .
social skills
the skills that are necessary in order to communicate and interact with others
social worker
A social worker is a person whose job is to do social work.
social activity
An activity is something that you spend time doing.
social benefits
the social welfare provision made available to those in need
social capital
the network of social connections that exist between people, and their shared values and norms of behaviour , which enable and encourage mutually advantageous social cooperation
Social Chapter
The social chapter is an agreement between countries in the European Union concerning workers' rights and working conditions.
Social Charter
a declaration of the rights, minimum wages , maximum hours , etc, of workers in the European Union, later adopted in the Social Chapter
social climber
You describe someone as a social climber when they try to get accepted into a higher social class by becoming friendly with people who belong to that class.
social-climbing
You describe someone's behaviour as social climbing when they try to get accepted into a higher social class by becoming friendly with people who belong to that class.
social context
The context of an idea or event is the general situation that relates to it, and which helps it to be understood .
social contract
(in the theories of Locke , Hobbes , Rousseau , and others) an agreement , entered into by individuals, that results in the formation of the state or of organized society, the prime motive being the desire for protection , which entails the surrender of some or all personal liberties
social control
the enforcement of conformity by society upon its members, either by law or by social pressure
social dancing
→ ballroom dancing
social democrat
any socialist who believes in the gradual transformation of capitalism into democratic socialism
social disease
a sexually transmitted disease
social distance
the extent to which individuals or groups are removed from or excluded from participating in one another's lives
social drinker
a person who drinks alcohol occasionally and usually only in social situations
social drinking
the practice of drinking alcohol occasionally and usually only in social situations
social dumping
the practice of allowing employers to lower wages and reduce employees' benefits in order to attract and retain employment and investment
social evening
a social gathering for the purpose of promoting companionship , communal activities, etc
social history
a view of historical events seen in terms of social trends
social housing
Social housing is housing which is provided for rent or sale at a fairly low cost by housing associations and local councils .
social justice
the principle that all members of society have equal rights and opportunities
social mobility
a person's ability to move to a different social class , usually from a lower to a higher social class
social