social

Social is an adjective meaning relating to society or to the interactions of people within a group. It contrasts with private life and is used to describe phenomena that emerge from collective life rather than from individuals in isolation. In everyday usage, social describes activities, relationships, and institutions that connect people, such as families, schools, or communities.

In sociology and related disciplines, the term covers structures, institutions, norms, and processes that organize collective life. Core concepts include socialization, roles, and power; social inequality and stratification by class, race, or gender; and how institutions such as family, education, and government shape behavior and opportunities.

Social networks are the patterns of connections among people and groups, and social capital refers to the resources those connections provide. Social mobility describes changes in an individual's or group's position within a society over time.

Social sciences study these phenomena using a range of methods, combining qualitative research, such as interviews and ethnography, with quantitative data from surveys and statistics.

The modern context of "social" also encompasses digital interaction, online communities, and social media, which extend and transform social life while raising questions about privacy, influence, and governance.

Beyond analysis, "social" appears in policy and practice, including social work, social policy, and welfare programs aimed at promoting well-being, equality, and access to resources for communities.