social evil

American  

noun

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

2. prostitution.

---

Etymology

Origin of social evil

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Now, a 27-year-old teacher in the central city of Bhopal has started a petition asking the police to deploy officers at marriage venues and conduct raids to put an end to this "social evil".

From BBC • Jul. 3, 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

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

Among the more definitely preventive agencies may be mentioned, first, societies of a national scope which aim to create healthy sentiment by emphasizing the grave dangers of the social evil.

From Commercialized Prostitution in New York City by Kneeland, George Jackson