social

American  

[soh-shuhl] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl /

adjective

1. relating to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations.

   a social club.

2. seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious.

3. of, relating to, connected with, or suited to polite or fashionable society.

   a social event.

4. living or disposed to live in companionship with others or in a community, rather than in isolation.

   People are social beings.

5. of or relating to human society, especially as a body divided into classes according to status.

   social rank.

6. involved in many social activities.

   We're so busy working, we have to be a little less social now.

7. of or relating to the life, welfare, and relations of human beings in a community.

   social problems.

8. noting or relating to activities designed to remedy or alleviate certain unfavorable conditions of life in a community, especially among poor people.

9. relating to or advocating the theory or system of socialism.

10. Digital Technology. noting or relating to online technologies, activities, etc., that promote companionship or communication with friends and other personal contacts: the use of social software to share expertise.

    social websites such as Facebook;

    the use of social software to share expertise.

11. Zoology. living habitually together in communities, as bees or ants.

12. Botany. growing in patches or clumps.

13. Rare. occurring or taking place between allies or confederates.

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noun

1. a social gathering or party, especially of or as given by an organized group.

   a church social.

2. Digital Technology. social media.

   photos posted to social.

social British  

/ ˈsəʊʃəl /

adjective

1. living or preferring to live in a community rather than alone

2. denoting or relating to human society or any of its subdivisions

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of the experience, behaviour, and interaction of persons forming groups

4. relating to or having the purpose of promoting companionship, communal activities, etc

   a social club

5. relating to or engaged in social services

   a social worker

6. relating to or considered appropriate to a certain class of society, esp one thought superior

7. (esp of certain species of insects) living together in organized colonies Compare solitary

   social bees

8. (of plant species) growing in clumps, usually over a wide area

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noun

1. an informal gathering, esp of an organized group, to promote companionship, communal activity, etc

Other Word Forms

• hypersocial adjective
• intersocial adjective
• nonsocial adjective
• pseudosocial adjective
• socially adverb
• socialness noun
• unsocial adjective

Etymology

Origin of social

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, Middle French, from Latin sociālis, equivalent to soci(us) “partner, comrade, ally” (derivative of sequī “to follow”) + -ālis -al ¹

Explanation

If you are social, you like to be around people. A social butterfly is someone who is social or friendly with everyone, flitting from person to person, the way a butterfly might. The word social comes from the Latin socius meaning "friend." When you're being social, you're everyone's friend. Go to a social, or mixer, and you might make a lot of new friends. Stand in the corner pouting, however, and you're being anti-social. Humans are described as social beings — ones that tend to move or live in groups together, like penguins!

Example Sentences

Pratt, a former reality TV star, has millions of followers on social media, but Trujillo said that Pratt will need to show a strong presence in the community to wage a successful campaign.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

On social media he announced he would "look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!"

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Flight attendants are there primarily to ensure safety, Rosenberg said, not to referee social dynamics: “There should not be an expectation that flight attendants will settle armrest disputes.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

“These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin,” said Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s Parliament, on social media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

These social evenings at the Underhill home were run twice a month as a courtesy for believing admirers.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• civil
• communal