socially

American

[soh-shuh-lee] / ˈsoʊ ʃə li /

adverb

in the friendly company of others; in a genial or gregarious manner.

We met through mutual friends who gather socially several times a month.
in a manner that relates to human society and its configuration as a community.

Her art strives to be both beautifully evocative and socially responsible.
in a manner that relates to the division of human society into classes according to status.

Socially and economically, these children are repressed by disadvantages we cannot imagine.
with attention or regard to rules about behavior.

In my day, carousing on a Sunday was socially unacceptable.

Other Word Forms

nonsocially adverb
unsocially adverb

Etymology

Origin of socially

First recorded in 1610–30; social ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

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.

South Australia historically hasn't been a likely hunting ground for One Nation, Kos Samaras says, because it is largely urbanised, middle class and socially harmonious.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

In such a socially competitive and professionally rapacious city, having a dinner party is intimidating, too much work, and very few people, even with boatloads of cash, end up hosting one.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

"It's like Covid again where everyone is socially distancing and not making plans to go out," she said.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

“Young children learn best really through these socially mediated experiences and by involving the senses.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Between us and everything we wanted to change in the world they placed a woman: socially, politically, economically.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

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