eusocial

adjective

eu·​so·​cial ˌyü-ˈsō-shəl 

: living in a cooperative group in which usually one female and several males are reproductively active and the nonbreeding individuals care for the young or protect and provide for the group

eusocial termites, ants, and naked mole rats

eusociality

ˌyü-ˌsō-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

Examples of eusocial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The discovery adds a new layer to scientists’ understanding of social immunity — collective disease-defense mechanisms — in eusocial species. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 24 Dec. 2025

Is there anything more lonely than this, a eusocial being in her moment of mortal digression away from the body of the colony? —Literary Hub, 31 Oct. 2025

For eusocial insects, like honeybees, grooming for parasites can be a collective activity rather than an individual one. —Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2025

Bees and other eusocial insects, for instance, clearly show evidence of collective intelligence. —Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2022

The inner workings of mole rats’ odd eusocial structure earns them a reputation for aggression. —Max G. Levy, Wired, 24 May 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eusocial

• asocial
• prosocial
• unsocial
• antisocial
• biosocial
• homosocial
• psychosocial
• biopsychosocial
• social