social

noun

Synonyms of socialnext
1
: an informal social event or gathering frequently involving a special activity or area of interest
an ice cream social
2
: a Social Security number
3
a
: social media
Follow us on social.
often used before another noun
social platforms
b
: a social media account
… block your ex on all of your socials.Yana Tallon-Hicks
often used before another noun
photos posted on her social page

Examples of social in a Sentence

The club has socials every month. He's living on the social now.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now, the 27-year-old is running her Investment Baker socials followed by tens of thousands of users, helming her cake business, and pursuing her MBA at Northwestern. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 7 June 2026 Weekends bring treasure-seekers to Shady Hollow Flea Market, while Fair Hills, one of our favorite lake resorts in the Midwest, offers an endearing old-school vibe with beach fire pits, ice cream socials, and the Hootenanny variety show on summer Tuesdays. Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 31 May 2026 Jensen was the first female comic to win NY’s Funniest Stand-Up Award at the New York Comedy Festival and has amassed over a million followers across her socials, as well as over two million views on her YouTube specials. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 May 2026 Othership’s sauna events range from comedy nights and singles socials to tarot readings and a shabbat social schvitz. Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for social

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of social was in 1857

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Social.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

social

1 of 2 adjective
so·​cial ˈsō-shəl How to pronounce social (audio)
1
a
: devoted to or engaged in for sociability
social events
my social life
2
: of or relating to human society
social institutions
3
a
: tending to form cooperative relationships with others
we are social beings
b
: living or growing by nature in groups or communities
bees are social insects
4
a
: of, relating to, or based on rank in a particular society
not accepted as their social equal
b
: of or relating to fashionable society
a social leader

social

2 of 2 noun
: a friendly gathering usually for a special reason
an ice cream social

Medical Definition

social

adjective
so·​cial ˈsō-shəl How to pronounce social (audio)
1
a
: tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with others of one's kind
b
: living and breeding in more or less organized communities
social insects
2
: of or relating to human society, the interaction of the individual and the group, or the welfare of human beings as members of society
immature social behavior
socially adverb

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