social

Less common meanings

6. 6
   partynouncountable or uncountable

   A party or other gathering organized by a club, church, company, or similar group so that its members or guests can meet and enjoy themselves.

   The church hosts a monthly social for newcomers to the area.

   After the social, several strangers had become good friends.

   UsageOften after the group holding it: a church social, a neighborhood social. People hold or host a social.

   Similargathering, party, get-together, mixer, function

7. 7
   ID numbernouncolloquialUScountable or uncountableabbreviationellipsis

   Short form of social security number: the nine-digit number the US government issues to identify a person for taxes, benefits and records.

   You'll need your social to apply for the loan.

   The form asked for my name, address, and social.

   UsageUsually with a possessive: your social, my social. In formal writing, use Social Security number.

   Note

   It is the question asked before someone looks up your account, as in "What's your social?" It stands for the nine-digit number issued by the Social Security Administration, which now serves as a de facto national identifier. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • A Social Security number has nine digits. ssa.gov
   • Social Security numbers are issued by the Social Security Administration. irs.gov
   • The Social Security number serves as a de facto national identifier in the United States. oig.ssa.gov
8. 8
   online accountnouncolloquialcountable

   An account on a social media platform, including its username, handle, or a link to it.

   Can you send me your social? I want to see your latest photos.

   The artist linked all her socials at the bottom of the page.

   UsageMostly plural: your socials, link your socials, drop your social in the comments.

   Similarhandle, profile, account

   Note

   The word can point to the account itself, the handle, or the link that leads there, as in "their socials are in the pinned comment." Randy Rainbow's 2019 lyric, urging someone to wipe out every one of their accounts that very night, shows the plural as the natural default.

9. 9
   living in groupsadjective

   Living, cooperating, or growing together in organized groups rather than alone.

   Bees are highly social, dividing labor among thousands of individuals.

   Wolves are social animals that hunt and raise their young together.

   UsageTypical pairings: social insects, social animals. The opposite is solitary.

   Similargregarious

   Oppositesolitary

   Note

   In biology the word describes a way of life rather than a temperament. A social insect is not friendly; it belongs to an organized group, and its natural opposite is solitary. The term comes in degrees: eusocial names the most tightly organized colonies, such as those of some insects, where members divide labor among themselves. Source

   Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

   • In biology, social describes cooperative group living rather than friendliness. nationalacademies.org
   • Solitary is the contrasting biological term. nationalacademies.org
   • Social organization has degrees, with eusociality representing the highest degree. en.wikipedia.org
   • Some insects are eusocial, and their colonies exhibit division of labor. en.wikipedia.org
10. 10
    school subjectnounCanadacountable or uncountableabbreviationellipsis

    Short form of social studies: the school subject combining history, geography, civics and related fields.

    Our social teacher assigned a report on the Constitution.

    He always finished his social homework first.

    UsageUsed like math, with no article: we have social next, and before nouns: social homework.

    Note

    It covers the whole combined subject of history, geography, civics and their neighbors. So "I have social next" names a class period, not a party. Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • Social studies combines history, geography, civics and related disciplines. curriculum.nbed.ca
11. 11
    fundraising dancenoundialectalCanadian Prairiescountable or uncountable

    A fundraising dance, frequently held to collect money for a couple about to be married.

    The couple's friends organized a social to cover the costs of their big day.

    The whole town came out to the social, and the money went to help the young couple pay for their wedding.

    Note

    On the Canadian Prairies the word carries its purpose with it: a social is a ticketed dance whose takings go to someone, very often a couple about to marry. Elsewhere a social is simply a gathering for meeting people. Outside the region, a visitor may need the fundraising part spelled out. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • On the Canadian Prairies, a social can mean a fundraising dance, often for a couple about to marry. en.wiktionary.org
    • These fundraising dances require admission tickets. socialsguide.com
12. 12
    adjectiverare

    Connected with a nation's allies or confederates, especially those bound to it by treaty.

    Similarallied, confederate

    Note

    Here the Latin socius is heard in its "ally" meaning, the root behind the "outgoing" meaning. The sense lives on mainly in the name the Social War, where social means "of the allies," not "of society." Outside such fixed names, readers will hear the everyday senses first. Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • Social, including its outgoing sense, derives ultimately from Latin socius, whose meanings include ally. en.wiktionary.org
    • In the name Social War, social refers to allies. en.wikipedia.org