Definition of social
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: involving allies or confederates
the Social War between the Athenians and their allies
2a
: 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
4a
: tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with others
Infants can become social beings only through interaction with others.— Gerald R. Leslie and Sheila K. Korman
b
: living and breeding in more or less organized communities especially for the purposes of cooperation and mutual benefit : not solitary
Of the canid family, the wolf is one of the most social species, since it is a pack hunter.— Michael W. Fox The evolutionary theory of kin selection requires that social animals recognize their relatives so that altruistic behavior can be displayed preferentially toward kin. — Science
— see also social insect
c
of a plant
: tending to grow in groups or masses so as to form a pure stand
5a
: 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
social
nounDefinition of social (Entry 2 of 2)
: sociable
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
The Exceptions Quiz III
-
- Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share social
Time Traveler for social
The first known use of social was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century