social evil

American  

noun

1. anything detrimental to a society or its citizens, as alcoholism, organized crime, etc.

2. prostitution.

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Etymology

Origin of social evil

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

"Each episode in this season takes up one structural social evil that is strengthened by marriage," says Debashree Mukherjee, a film scholar and professor at Columbia University.

From BBC • Aug. 18, 2023

“These child marriages have become a social evil and as a result the mortality rates have been quite high,” he said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2023

It’s the lack of acknowledgment that is the root of so much social evil.

From Washington Post • Nov. 14, 2019

There are clip-clop ole West numbers, solemn hymns of uplift and lamentation and sardonic Brechtian ditties of social evil.

From New York Times • Jun. 12, 2017

Their methods are generally childish, for they overlook the causes of social evil, but it is gratifying to see them drifting from the old moorings, and little by little abandoning the old dogmas.

From Flowers of Freethought (First Series) by Foote, G. W. (George William)