social capital

American  

[soh-shuhl kap-i-tl] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl ˈkæp ɪ tl /

noun

Sociology.

1. the interpersonal relationships, institutions, and other social assets of a society or group that can be used to gain advantage.

   the impact of social capital on productivity and economic well-being; the ways in which women accumulate social capital.

---

social capital British  

noun

1. the network of social connections that exist between people, and their shared values and norms of behaviour, which enable and encourage mutually advantageous social cooperation

---

Etymology

Origin of social capital

First recorded in 1830–35

Compare meaning

How does social-capital compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• social capital vs. cultural capital

Example Sentences

The young MPs of the People's Party lacked social capital, he says.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

Mr. Chetty’s work highlights the power of neighborhoods, social capital, civic engagement and family stability to shape opportunity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

But I also understand, deeply, the power of networks and social capital in determining one’s life trajectory and where it ends up or not.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2024

The two dead ends which currently are less advanced are the autonomy of technology -- AI and robotics -- and a loss of social capital through digitalization.

From Science Daily • Nov. 13, 2023

The reason is that upward mobility requires what sociologists describe as the twin pillars of success: human capital and social capital.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times