social

A2 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/ UK /ˈsəʊ.ʃəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #1654

Meanings

1

adj
Relating to society and the way people live together.

The government promised to fix several pressing social problems.
2

adj
Relating to activities where people meet and enjoy each other's company.

She has a busy social life and goes out almost every night.
3

adj
Friendly and enjoying being with other people.

James is very social and knows lots of people.
4

adj
Living together in groups or communities.

Ants are social insects that live in large colonies.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to society and the... societal

Opposites

antisocialasocialunsocial

Word family

Forms socials

Derived forms anti-socialbiosocialchronosocialcybersocialdissocialdissocializeecosocialethnosocialeusocialextrasocialgeosocialheterosocial

Related forms sociality societal

Appears in

Phrases (15)

See all

social life
activities involving friends, socializing, and leisure

Adjective + noun
social club
a club organized for socializing and leisure activities

Adjective + noun
social anthropology
the study of human societies, cultures, and social relationships

Adjective + noun
social event
an occasion where people meet and interact for enjoyment or shared activities

Adjective + noun
social facilitation
improved performance on familiar tasks when other people are present

Adjective + noun
social gathering
an occasion bringing people together to meet and interact

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Social came into English in the mid-16th century from Latin socius, “companion.” The same Latin base also gave rise to society and is closely related to associare, “to unite,” the source of associate.

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.

*sekʷ- Proto-Indo-European social Middle French sociālis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society

External links

# social

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsəʊ.ʃəl/
**Frequency rank:** 1654

## Meanings
1. Relating to society and the way people live together.
2. Relating to activities where people meet and enjoy each other's company.
3. Friendly and enjoying being with other people.
4. Living together in groups or communities.

## Examples
- The government promised to fix several pressing social problems.
- She has a busy social life and goes out almost every night.
- James is very social and knows lots of people.
- Ants are social insects that live in large colonies.

## Antonyms
- antisocial
- asocial
- unsocial

## Derived Forms
- anti-social
- biosocial
- chronosocial
- cybersocial
- dissocial
- dissocialize
- ecosocial
- ethnosocial
- eusocial
- extrasocial
- geosocial
- heterosocial

## Related Forms
- sociality
- societal

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *sekʷ-
- Root: social
- Root: sociālis
- Affix: -ial - relating to

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Social is 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. Important forms in the word's history include Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ-, Middle French social, Latin sociālis. In current use it includes senses such as Relating to society and the way people live together and Relating to activities where people meet and enjoy each other's company.

## Topics
- People & Society

markdown