Social

Pronunciation

• IPA: /səʊʃlÌ©/
• Rhymes: -əʊʃəl

Origin

From Middle French social, from Latin sociālis ("of or belonging to a companion or companionship or association, social"), from socius ("a companion, fellow, partner, associate, ally"), from sequor ("follow").

Full definition of social

Noun

1. A festive gathering to foster introductions.They organized a social at the dance club to get people to know each other.
2. (Canadian Prairies) A dance held to raise money for a couple to be married.
3. (British, colloquial) Abbreviation of welfare benefit, for its employees.Fred hated going down to the social to sign on.
4. (US, colloquial) Abbreviation of social security numberWhat's your social?
5. (dated, Ireland) A dinner dance event, usually held annually by a company or sporting club.

Adjective

1. Being extroverted or outgoing.James is a very social guy; he knows lots of people.
2. Of or relating to society.
• 2012-01, Donald Worster, A Drier and Hotter Future, Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such dust storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force.
3. Teresa feels uncomfortable in certain social situations.Unemployment is a social problem.
4. (Internet) Relating to social media or social networks.social gaming
5. (rare) Relating to a nation's allies (cf. Social War)
6. (botany, zoology) Cooperating or growing in groups.a social insect

Antonyms

• antisocial
• unsocial
• asocial

Derived terms

Related terms

• sociality