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Synonyms

social media

American  

noun

(usually used with a plural verb)

  1. websites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts.

    Many businesses are utilizing social media to generate sales.

Etymology

Origin of social media

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Social media usage also spiked drastically, with 46 to 51 percent of U.S. adults reporting higher usage months after the outbreak began.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

Social media giants are facing a global reckoning as governments increasingly worry about their impact on users' wellbeing.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Social media is filled with AI animal rescues of all types.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

Social media is full of the kinds of existential dread you’d expect from those unaccustomed to such adversity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Social media bosses are being summoned to Downing Street on Thursday to discuss children's safety online with the prime minister.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.