social
1 adj Social means relating to society or to the way society is organized.
ADJ n
...the worst effects of unemployment, low pay and other social problems., ...long-term social change., ...changing social attitudes., ...the tightly woven social fabric of small towns., ...research into housing and social policy.
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socially adv ADV adj/-ed
Let's face it<endash10001drinking is a socially acceptable habit., ...one of the most socially deprived areas in Britain.
2 adj Social means relating to the status or rank that someone has in society.
ADJ n
Higher education is unequally distributed across social classes..., The guests came from all social backgrounds...
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socially adv usu ADV adj/-ed, also ADV with cl
For socially ambitious couples this is a problem., ...socially disadvantaged children...
3 adj Social means relating to leisure activities that involve meeting other people.
ADJ n
We ought to organize more social events...
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socially adv usu ADV with v, also ADV with cl
We have known each other socially for a long time..., The two groups rarely meet socially...
4 adj Social animals live in groups and do things together. ADJ n ...social insects like bees and ants.
anti-social , antisocial
1 adj Someone who is anti-social is unwilling to meet and be friendly with other people.
...teenagers who will become aggressive and anti-social.
2 adj Anti-social behaviour is annoying or upsetting to other people.
social chapter
Thesocial chapter is an agreement between countries in the European Union concerning workers' rights and working conditions. n-sing the N
social climber ( social climbers plural ) You describe someone as a social climber when they try to get accepted into a higher social class by becoming friendly with people who belong to that class. n-count
(disapproval)
That Rous was a snob and a social climber could scarcely be denied.
social climbing , social-climbing
You describe someone's behaviour as social climbing when they try to get accepted into a higher social class by becoming friendly with people who belong to that class. n-uncount
(disapproval)
All that vulgar social-climbing!
Social climbing is also an adjective., adj ADJ n
...Leroy's ambitious social-climbing wife.
social club ( social clubs plural ) A social club is a club where members go in order to meet each other and enjoy leisure activities. n-count
social democracy ( social democracies plural )
1 n-uncount Social democracy is a political system according to which social justice and equality can be achieved within the framework of a market economy.
...western-style social democracy.
2 n-count A social democracy is a country where there is social democracy.
social democratic
A social democratic party is a political party whose principles are based on social democracy. adj ADJ n
...relations with the social democratic governments in Europe.
social housing
Social housing is housing which is provided for rent or sale at a fairly low cost by organizations such as housing associations and local councils.
(BRIT) n-uncount
social life ( social lives plural ) Your social life involves spending time with your friends, for example at parties or in pubs or bars. n-count with supp, oft with poss
social order ( social orders plural ) The social order in a place is the way that society is organized there. n-var
...the threat to social order posed by right-wing extremists.
social science ( social sciences plural )
1 n-uncount Social science is the scientific study of society.
2 n-count The social sciences are the various types of social science, for example sociology and politics.
usu pl
social scientist ( social scientists plural ) A social scientist is a person who studies or teaches social science. n-count
social security
Social security is a system under which a government pays money regularly to certain groups of people, for example the sick, the unemployed, or those with no other income. n-uncount
...women who did not have jobs and were on social security...
social services
The social services in a district are the services provided by the local authority or government to help people who have serious family problems or financial problems. n-plural
I have asked the social services for help, but they have not done anything.
social studies
1 n-uncount In Britain, social studies is a subject that is taught in schools and colleges, and includes sociology, politics, and economics.
2 n-uncount In the United States, social studies is a subject that is taught in schools, and that includes history, geography, sociology, and politics.
social work
Social work is work which involves giving help and advice to people with serious family problems or financial problems. n-uncount
social worker ( social workers plural ) A social worker is a person whose job is to do social work. n-count