social engineering

[soh-shuhl en-juh-neer-ing]

noun

1. Political Science.,  the manipulation of social beliefs and behaviors by public or private entities through legislation, policy, and investment.

2. a technique that uses psychological manipulation, fraud, or dishonesty to force people to disclose private personal or corporate information, or to take a particular action.

   Hackers are using social engineering to perpetrate phishing scams.

social engineering

noun

1. the manipulation of the social position and function of individuals in order to manage change in a society

Other Word Forms

• social engineer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of social engineering¹

First recorded in 1895–1900