What does "social" mean?
A festive gathering to foster introductions.
Social
/ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A festive gathering to foster introductions.
- Grammar: social is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: societal, affable, affair, affiliative.
- Useful contrasts: antisocial, asocial, unsocial.
- Usage evidence: Hunger is one of the greatest social miseries.
How to use "social"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "social" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "social" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "social" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "social" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "social" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "societal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "social", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A festive gathering to foster introductions. countable, uncountable
"They organized a social at the dance club to help people get to know one another."
- 2 a party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity wordnet
- 3 A dance held to raise money, often held for a couple to be married. Canadian-Prairies, countable, uncountable
- 4 Ellipsis of social security. British, abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, countable, ellipsis, uncountable, with-definite-article
"Fred hated going down to the social to sign on."
- 5 Ellipsis of social security number. US, abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
"What's your social? [asked so that the asker can look up your account details]"
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A dinner dance event, usually held annually by a company or sporting club. Ireland, countable, dated, uncountable
- 7 Ellipsis of social studies. Canada, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
- 8 Ellipsis of social media. Internet, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, informal, uncountable
"“I saw that shift, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s the future of social,’” Systrom said."
- 9 A social media account; the username or handle thereof, or a link thereto. Internet, countable, informal
"Also check out some other experts in this topic — their socials are in the pinned comment below."
Adjective
- 1 Being extroverted or outgoing.
"James is a very social guy; he knows lots of people."
- 2 Of or relating to society.
"Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force."
- 3 Relating to social media or social networks. Internet
"social gaming"
- 4 Relating to a nation's allies. rare
"the Social War"
- 5 Cooperating or growing in groups.
"a social insect"
Adjective
- 1 marked by friendly companionship with others wordnet
- 2 living together or enjoying life in communities or organized groups wordnet
- 3 tending to move or live together in groups or colonies of the same kind wordnet
- 4 composed of sociable people or formed for the purpose of sociability wordnet
- 5 relating to human society and its members wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 relating to or belonging to or characteristic of high society wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Hunger is one of the greatest social miseries."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "social"?
Common synonyms include: societal, affable, affair, affiliative, amiable, amusing.
How do you use "social" in a sentence?
Hunger is one of the greatest social miseries.
How do you pronounce "social"?
Pronounced /ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/.
Etymology
From Middle French social, from Latin sociālis (“of or belonging to a companion or companionship or association, social”), from socius (“a companion, fellow, partner, associate, ally”), from sequor (“follow”). Cognate with English seg (“man, companion, fellow”). More at seg.