social engineering

noun

1

: management of human beings in accordance with their place and function in society : applied social science

2

: social methods (such as phishing) that are used to obtain personal or confidential information which can then be used illicitly

The previously noted trend of switching from social engineering to hacking methods in attacks on organizations strengthened …

—San Fernando Valley (California) Business Journal

social engineer noun

plural social engineers

Examples of social engineering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Further forensic analysis revealed that the attackers utilized advanced phishing techniques and social engineering to gain initial access to internal credentials, which were then used to bypass security protocols. —Sandy Carter, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025

The past 20 years prove that large-scale social engineering does not work. —Sean P. Brooks, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2025

At the other end of the scale, according to Orange’s research, residential proxy networks have broadly been used for cyber espionage by Russian hackers, in social engineering efforts, as part of DDoS attacks, phishing, botnets, and more. —Matt Burgess, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2024

Attacks that can create critical threat campaigns using AI for just $5 are evidence of just how far social engineering hackers have evolved. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for social engineering

• bioengineering
• adhering
• appearing
• careering
• cohering
• endearing
• inhering
• prehearing
• rehearing
• veneering
• cheering
• clearing

Kids Definition

social engineering

noun

1

: management of human beings in accordance with their place and function in society : applied social science

2

: social methods (such as phishing) that are used to obtain personal or confidential information which can then be used illicitly