sociality

noun

so·​ci·​al·​i·​ty ˌsō-shē-ˈa-lə-tē How to pronounce sociality (audio)
plural socialities
1
b
: an instance of social intercourse or sociability
2
: the tendency to associate in or form social groups

Examples of sociality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The hippocampus is an ancient brain structure: It is highly conserved among mammals with diverse lifestyles and degrees of sociality, from largely solitary platypuses to highly communal people. Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 31 Oct. 2023 Skeptics Question Just How Contagious Yawning Is Whatever its purpose, contagious yawning certainly seems tied to big brains, and to sociality. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 9 Oct. 2023 The octopuses' humanlike behavior in the study indicated that serotonin, the primary brain chemical that MDMA mimics, plays an ancient and fundamental role in sociality. WIRED, 15 June 2023 The scientific literature is rife with anecdotes and research showing high cognition, playfulness and sociality in the species known as Orcinus orca — and examples of what appear to be the cultural transmission of new behaviors, either via teaching or observation. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023 So then the neural circuitry for sociality must exist, and MDMA—through its ability to mimic serotonin—is unlocking that. Gideon Lichfield, WIRED, 12 July 2023 In this series, leading researchers in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, language and sociality dive into these cutting-edge frontiers and explore the interplay between these disciplines to unravel the mysteries surrounding human origins. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2023 Such sanitation behaviors are believed to have been a necessary step in the emergence of group living and sociality. Erica Tennenhouse, Discover Magazine, 3 Aug. 2016 But recent scholarship on human sociality, including my research, has added some complexity and nuance to this equation, showing that social interactions with acquaintances and even strangers also have the potential to alleviate loneliness and boost well-being. Jeffrey A. Hall, WSJ, 18 Mar. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sociality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sociality was circa 1649

Dictionary Entries Near sociality

Cite this Entry

“Sociality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sociality. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

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