social system

American  

[soh-shuhl sis-tuhm] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl ˈsɪs təm /

noun

plural

social systems

1. the web of established structures, institutions, processes, interrelationships, etc., by which a society functions.

---

Other Word Forms

• social-systems adjective

Example Sentences

During this time, construction of ceremonial "ahu" platforms slowed, Rano Kao became a key ritual center, and a new social system known as "Tangata Manu" emerged.

From Science Daily • Feb. 10, 2026

As women increasingly assert their right to choose their partners, Srivastava adds, they often encounter resistance from what she describes as "a deeply regressive social system".

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

“In Finland we have a social system and a community which has enabled us to be successful,” says Ilkka Paananen, the chief executive of a videogames company in Helsinki.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

She’d like future studies to dive more deeply into how various adverse events affect longevity depending on a species’ social system.

From Science Magazine • May 15, 2023

“But the same social system that exists in the cities also exists in the compound; it’s just a little harder to see.”

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth