social

¹so·cial

adjective \ˈsō-shəl\

Definition of SOCIAL

1

: involving allies or confederates <the Social War between the Athenians and their allies>

2

a : marked by or passed in pleasant companionship with friends or associates <an active social life>

b : sociable

c : of, relating to, or designed for sociability <a social club>

3

: of or relating to human society, the interaction of the individual and the group, or the welfare of human beings as members of society <social institutions>

4

a : tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with others

b : living and breeding in more or less organized communities <social insects>

c of a plant : tending to grow in groups or masses so as to form a pure stand

5

a : of, relating to, or based on rank or status in a particular society <a member of our social set>

b : of, relating to, or characteristic of the upper classes

c : formal

6

: being such in social situations <a social drinker>

Examples of SOCIAL

1. She has poor social skills.
2. The vacation resort held a lot of social events.
3. I joined the club to improve my social life.
4. Her sister is much more social than she is.
5. social institutions like marriage and family
6. Health care is a major social issue.
7. Child abuse has become a serious social problem.
8. Martin Luther King, Jr., fought for social change.
9. Most humans are social beings.

Origin of SOCIAL

Middle English, from Latin socialis, from socius companion, ally, associate; akin to Old English secg man, companion, Latin sequi to follow — more at sue

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SOCIAL

Synonyms

boon, clubbable (also clubable), clubby, companionable, extroverted (also extraverted), gregarious, outgoing, sociable, convivial

Antonyms

antisocial, insociable, introverted, nongregarious, reclusive, unsociable, unsocial

Related Words

cordial, folksy, forthcoming, friendly, hospitable; affable, genial, gracious; agreeable, amiable, congenial, kindly, neighborly; animated, gay, jaunty, jolly, jovial, lively, peppy, perky, pert, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious; communicative, expansive, garrulous, talkative; bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, effervescent, upbeat; bubbly, exuberant, high-spirited

Near Antonyms

misanthropic; aloof, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish; mum, mute, reticent, silent, taciturn

Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

²social

noun

Definition of SOCIAL

: sociable

Examples of SOCIAL

1. The club has socials every month.
2. He's living on the social now.

First Known Use of SOCIAL

1870

so·cial

adjective \ˈsō-shəl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SOCIAL

1

a : tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with others of one's kind b : living and breeding in more or less organized communities <social insects>

2

: of or relating to human society, the interaction of the individual and the group, or the welfare of human beings as members of society <immature social behavior>

—so·cial·ly \-ē\ (audio pronunciation) adverb