social

ENEnglish
//ˈsəʊ.ʃəl//(UK)

Direct German Translations & Equivalents:

Click any term below to jump straight to its full vocabulary entry in German:

Definitions & Usage

adjective
#1

Being extroverted or outgoing.

Example: James is a very social guy; he knows lots of people.
adjective
#2

Of or relating to society.

Example: Teresa feels uncomfortable in certain social situations.
Example: Unemployment is a social problem.
adjective
#3

(Internet) Relating to social media or social networks.

Example: social gaming
Translations:
adjective
#4

(rare) Relating to a nation's allies.

Example: the Social War
Translations:
adjective
#5

(biology) Cooperating or growing in groups.

Example: a social insect
noun
#6

A festive gathering to foster introductions.

Example: They organized a social at the dance club to help people get to know one another.
Translations:
noun
#7

(Canadian Prairies) A dance held to raise money, often held for a couple to be married.

noun
#8

(British, colloquial, with definite article) Ellipsis of social security.

Example: Fred hated going down to the social to sign on.
noun
#9

(US, colloquial) Ellipsis of social security number.

Example: What's your social? [asked so that the asker can look up your account details]
noun
#10

(dated, Ireland) A dinner dance event, usually held annually by a company or sporting club.

noun
#11

(Canada) Ellipsis of social studies.

noun
#12

(Internet, informal, uncountable) Ellipsis of social media.

noun
#13

(Internet, informal, countable) A social media account; the username or handle thereof, or a link thereto.

Example: Also check out some other experts in this topic — their socials are in the pinned comment below.

Notable Literary & Historical Quotes

Not ignoring what is good, I am quick to perceive a horror, and could still be social with it—would they let me—since it is but well to be on friendly terms with all the inmates of the place one lodges in.

1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 1:

Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force.

2012 January 25, Donald Worster, “A Drier and Hotter Future”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 26 Jan 2012, page 70:

“I saw that shift, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s the future of social,’” Systrom said.

2023 January 31, Casey Newton, quoting Kevin Systrom, “Instagram’s co-founders are back with Artifact, a kind of TikTok for text”, in The Verge, archived from the original on 02 Apr 2024:

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