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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Social: Meaning, Examples, and Common Collocations (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：relating to companionship (social)

social 🔊

/ˈsoʊʃəl/

adj.

Related to spending time with other people for fun and friendship.

Social gathering of friends laughing in a café

relating to companionship 🔊

➕

/rɪˈleɪtɪŋ tə kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/

adj.

Describes activities, events, or behaviors that involve spending time with others for enjoyment, friendship, or leisure.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'socius' meaning companion, plus adjective suffix '-al'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'socius' (ally) — a social person is like a loyal ally at a party, always mingling.

📖 Example

The weekend is a great time for social activities like meeting friends for coffee or having a barbecue. 🔊 The weekend is a great time for social activities like meeting friends for coffee or having a barbecue.

🔗 Collocations

social event – An occasion where people gather primarily to interact and enjoy each other's company

social gathering – A meeting of people for friendly conversation or shared activities

social circle – A group of people with whom one regularly interacts and shares interests

🔄 Synonyms

gregarious (adj.) – Tending to enjoy and seek out the company of others

outgoing (adj.) – Friendly and socially confident, eager to meet people

sociable (adj.) – Willing to engage in friendly interaction with others

🚫 Antonyms

antisocial (adj.) – Avoiding or hostile to social interaction

unsociable (adj.) – Not enjoying or actively avoiding the company of others

introverted (adj.) – Preferring solitary activities over social gatherings

🌱 Derivatives

society (n.) – The community of people living together in a particular region or sharing customs

socialize (v.) – To interact with others in a friendly or informal setting

sociality (n.) – The quality or state of being social; tendency to associate with others

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Latin 'socius' (companion), the word entered Old French as 'social' and then Middle English. It reflects the fundamental human need for community and interaction.

Meaning 2：relating to society (social)

social 🔊

/ˈsoʊʃəl/

adj.

Related to society and how people live together in groups or communities.

Social structure discussion in a classroom

relating to society 🔊

➕

/rɪˈleɪtɪŋ tə səˈsaɪəti/

adj.

Pertaining to the structure, organization, or problems of human society as a whole, such as policies, systems, or shared concerns.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

In our university class, we discussed important social issues like affordable housing and access to education. 🔊 In our university class, we discussed important social issues like affordable housing and access to education.

🔗 Collocations

social issue – A problem or matter that affects a large number of people within a society

social structure – The organized pattern of relationships and institutions that make up a society

social welfare – Programs and policies designed to improve the well-being of citizens

🔄 Synonyms

communal (adj.) – Relating to a community or group, often shared by all members

public (adj.) – Concerning the people as a whole; open to or affecting everyone

societal (adj.) – Relating to the structure and organization of society

🚫 Antonyms

individual (adj.) – Relating to a single person rather than the group

private (adj.) – Belonging to or concerning an individual, not the public

personal (adj.) – Privately owned or concerning someone's own life, not society's

🌱 Derivatives

society (n.) – The aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community

socialize (v.) – To make or become part of a social system; to adapt to social norms

socialism (n.) – A political and economic theory advocating collective or governmental ownership of production