social evil
Americannoun
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anything detrimental to a society or its citizens, as alcoholism, organized crime, etc.
Etymology
Origin of social evil
First recorded in 1855–60
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.
The film also tackles the social evil that is dowry - the practice of the bride's family gifting cash, clothes and jewellery to the groom's family.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2025
“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
In the new book, Cosby weaves another social evil, homophobia, into his speeding narrative.
From Washington Post • Jul. 2, 2021
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
In entering upon its labors, the Bureau regarded it of fundamental importance to make a careful study of the social evil in this country and in Europe.
From Commercialized Prostitution in New York City by Kneeland, George Jackson
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.
