social evolution

American

noun

Sociology.

the gradual development of society and social forms, institutions, etc., usually through a series of peaceful stages.

social evolution British

noun

sociol the process of social development from an early simple type of social organization to one that is complex and highly specialized

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

So, what if researchers could influence their social evolution to promote certain behaviors?

From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2024

But at this stage in our social evolution it seems unfair to ask that of most any novel.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2022

Wrestling his 64-key acoustic piano onto a Pike Place corner every day, he bears bittersweet witness to a particular strain of social evolution.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 28, 2021

One might think of this as a very "Bridgerton" conundrum: on the one hand, the opportunity to accelerate cultural and social evolution should be maximized as frequently as possible.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2021

The process of social evolution would then grind to a standstill, and we'd be stuck in today’s rut for a millennium.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023