socialization

noun

so·​cial·​i·​za·​tion ˌsō-sh(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən 

1

a

: the process beginning during childhood by which individuals acquire the values, habits, and attitudes of a society

But certainly dealing with shame and its boundaries is soon a constant factor in the socialization of the child, because standards and rules are everywhere …

—Robert Karen

The most important feature of culture is that it can be transmitted, and thus the young can acquire adaptive repertoires through the learning process or, in sociological terms, the socialization process.

—David Mechanic

b

: social interaction with others

She also made spelling an exercise in socialization, by putting together children who did not seem predisposed to like each other.

—Tracy Kidder

With its idiosyncratic rhythms, rules and relationships, the coffee bar, these new workers say, has replaced the local bar as a place of socialization.

—Kirk Johnson

c

: exposure of a young domestic animal (such as a kitten or puppy) to a variety of people, animals, and situations to minimize fear and aggression and promote friendliness

Some adult dogs, because of a lack of socialization combined with genetic tendencies, can never transfer certain individuals from the "unfamiliar" to the "familiar" category.

—Dog Watch

2

: the action or process of making something (such as an industry) socialistic : conversion to collective or governmental ownership and control

the socialization of medicine

In the case of Vietnam the exodus was also related to … the government's decision of March 1978 to close down privately run businesses. This was a move to accelerate the socialization of the economy …

—T. E. Vedney

Examples of socialization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Experts recommend keeping kittens with their litter until 10 to 12 weeks to ensure proper socialization. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025

Partly, this is because institutions that used to encourage consistent, more seamless socialization, such as religious and civic groups, have largely declined in popularity. —Serena Dai, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2025

Television executives have spent countless hours in recent years obsessing over how to make baseball games move faster, but many a true devotee will tell you that part of the game’s charm lies in its ability to facilitate socialization. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Jan. 2025

His vision encapsulates that shift and seamlessly integrates fast-moving, flexible environments that prioritize informal socialization, privacy, and a sense of community. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

socialization

noun

so·​cial·​iza·​tion

variants also British socialisation

ˌsōsh-(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən 

: the process by which a human being beginning at infancy acquires the habits, beliefs, and accumulated knowledge of society through education and training for adult status