social

1 of 2

adjective

so·​cial ˈsō-shəl 

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

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

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

social

2 of 2

noun

: sociable

Synonyms

Adjective

• outgoing
• friendly
• hospitable
• convivial

Examples of social in a Sentence

Adjective

She has poor social skills.

The vacation resort held a lot of social events.

I joined the club to improve my social life.

Her sister is much more social than she is.

social institutions like marriage and family

Health care is a major social issue.

Child abuse has become a serious social problem.

Martin Luther King, Jr., fought for social change.

Most humans are social beings.

Noun

The club has socials every month.

He's living on the social now.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The founder’s increasing social activism has not consistently aligned with Unilever’s values, illustrating the complexity corporations can face. —Jennifer J. Fondrevay, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

The 25 kilos of drugs were wrapped in packaging featuring the iconic gun-brandishing cartoon character, the Walton County Sheriff's Office said in a social media post, which included images of the cocaine. —July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025

Noun

Fortunately, campuses are starting to respond — with substance-free housing, wellness events and mocktail socials that prove sobriety can be social. —Rebecca Styn, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025

The indirect echo, which is all the media and social that doesn’t come from the social account of the celebrity or the social account of the brand, represents 77 percent. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1857, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing social

• box social
• has a busy/hectic social life
• observe the social amenities
• pro-social
• social animal
• social class
• social climber
• social conscience
• social consciousness
• social conservatism
• social construct
• social contract
• social Darwinism
• social democracy
• social disease
• social distance
• social distancing
• social drinker
• social engineering
• social gospel
• social housing
• social insect
• social insurance
• social liberalism
• social life
• social media
• social-minded
• social network
• social networking
• social promotion
• social psychology
• social science
• social secretary
• social security
• social service
• social studies
• social welfare
• social work
• the social
• the social whirl

Rhymes for social

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

Kids Definition

social

1 of 2 adjective

so·​cial ˈsō-shəl 

1

a

: devoted to or engaged in for sociability

social events

my social life

b

: sociable entry 1 sense 1

2

: of or relating to human society

social institutions

3

a

: tending to form cooperative relationships with others

we are social beings

b

: living or growing by nature in groups or communities

bees are social insects

4

a

: of, relating to, or based on rank in a particular society

not accepted as their social equal

b

: of or relating to fashionable society

a social leader

social

2 of 2 noun

: a friendly gathering usually for a special reason

an ice cream social

Medical Definition

social

adjective

so·​cial ˈsō-shəl 

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

socially

-ē 

adverb