social
gb/sˈoʊʃəl/ us/sˈoʊʃəl/
A2
English
~ 300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Relating to human interaction
About activities or situations where people talk or spend time together.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is social
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'social' with 'sociable'. 'Social' often describes events or situations, while 'sociable' describes a person's nature.
Synonyms
sociable (Describes someone who enjoys being with others; focuses more on personality.)
Antonyms
antisocial (Describes someone who avoids or dislikes being with others.)
Collocations
social life
|social skills
|social event
|social interaction
|social network
Themes
daily life
|communication
|relationships
Examples
- She has a busy social life and goes out several times a week.
- Good social skills are important for making friends.
- The festival was a major social event in the town.
Learner examples
- I have many social events this month.
- He is very social and likes to meet new people.
- We need to improve our social skills.
adjective
B1
property
2
Concerning society or community
About how people live and work together in a community or country.
Usage pattern:
[something] is social
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'sociable', which refers to personal friendliness, not society-wide issues.
Synonyms
societal (More formal; often used in academic or policy contexts.)
Antonyms
individual (Focusing on one person rather than society as a whole.)
Collocations
social change
|social justice
|social problems
|social inequality
Themes
society
|politics
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
Examples
- The government plans to address social inequality.
- Education can help solve many social problems.
- Social change often takes decades to achieve.
Learner examples
- We must stop social problems like poverty.
- The city has many social programs for the poor.
- Social justice is important for peace.
adjective
A2
property
3
Relating to social media platforms
About websites or apps where people talk, share pictures, and connect online.
Usage pattern:
[something] is social
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'social' here with general in-person interaction; this sense is specific to internet-based communication.
Synonyms
networking (Often used in business or professional contexts for building contacts.)
Antonyms
offline (Not connected to the internet or online platforms.)
Collocations
social media
|social networking site
Themes
technology
|communication
Examples
- Social media has changed how we get news.
- She works as a social media manager.
- Many businesses use social networking sites to reach customers.
Learner examples
- I post photos on social media.
- Social networking is popular with young people.
- He is famous on many social platforms.
Noun
B1
entity
4
Informal gathering for enjoyment
A friendly meeting or party where people talk and enjoy themselves.
Usage pattern:
attend [a/the] social
Synonyms
gathering (A general word for people coming together; not always informal or fun.)
Antonyms
solitude (Being alone, away from others.)
Collocations
attend a social
|school social
Themes
daily life
|leisure
|daily_life
|relationships
Examples
- The club is hosting a social this Friday night.
- I met her at a church social last year.
- They organized a small social for new members.
Learner examples
- We went to a school social last week.
- I met new friends at the social.
- The social was fun and full of music.
Grammar
Dictionary form
social
IPA
GB/sˈoʊʃəl/
US/sˈoʊʃəl/
Syllables & stress
so - cial (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (so)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: social
Noun
- Base: social
- Plural: socials
Word family
Forms
socials
noun
Related words
sociable
adjective B1
socialization
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
antisocial
adjective
unsociable
adjective
Advanced or less common
Expressions
social distancing
1/sˈoʊʃəl dˈɪstənsɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Keeping distance to prevent illness spread
Staying away from other people so you don't catch or spread sickness.
Examples
- Social distancing became common during the pandemic.
- The guidelines recommend maintaining at least two meters of social distancing.
social life
1/sˈoʊʃəl lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
Time spent with others socially
The part of your life when you meet and spend time with friends or other people for fun.
Examples
- Since moving to the city, her social life has improved a lot.
- Exams have taken over my schedule, leaving little room for a social life.
social media
1/sˈoʊʃəl mˈidiə/
fixed phrase
Websites/apps for online interaction
Websites or apps where people share information, pictures, and talk with each other online.
Examples
- Social media is a powerful tool for communication.
- Many young people spend hours on social media every day.
social skills
1/sˈoʊʃəl skˈɪlz/
fixed phrase
Ability to interact well with others
The ability to talk and work well with other people in different situations.
Examples
- Good social skills are essential in customer service jobs.
- He took a course to improve his social skills.
social butterfly
1/sˈoʊʃəl bˈʌtɚflˌaɪ/
idiom
informal
Very outgoing, socially active person
A person who likes to meet many people and go to many events.
Examples
- She's such a social butterfly—always going from one party to another.
- He’s a real social butterfly at conferences.
- Even in a new city, he quickly became known as a social butterfly.
- At parties, Mia turns into a social butterfly.
- I’m not a social butterfly; I prefer small groups.