the social
noun
British, somewhat informal
: money provided by a government program to people who are unable to work because they are old, disabled, or unemployed
He's living on the social now.
Examples of the social in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Not that Talarico, a progressive seminarian, likes to see the social-media drama that’s arisen as primary day gets closer.
—
David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
The essay has been viewed 85 million times on the social media platform.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Of course, the social meaning of clothes can and does change.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The firm works with Italian nonprofit organization Cooperativa Alice, which was founded in 1992 in Milan with the aim of promoting the social and occupational reintegration of disadvantaged people — in particular women in prison or victims of violence and mothers in difficulty.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the social
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David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
The essay has been viewed 85 million times on the social media platform.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Of course, the social meaning of clothes can and does change.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The firm works with Italian nonprofit organization Cooperativa Alice, which was founded in 1992 in Milan with the aim of promoting the social and occupational reintegration of disadvantaged people — in particular women in prison or victims of violence and mothers in difficulty.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the social
Cite this Entry
“The social.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20social. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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