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social

/ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/
adjectivenoun

SOCIAL is a six-letter word worth 8 points in Scrabble; its sole anagram is SCOLIA, and it has no one-letter neighbours.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Adjective 4 meanings

  1. Being extroverted or outgoing.

    “James is a very social guy; he knows lots of people.”

  2. Of or relating to society.

    “Teresa feels uncomfortable in certain social situations.”

  3. Relating to social media or social networks.

    “social gaming”

  4. Cooperating or growing in groups.

    “a social insect”

Noun 4 meanings

  1. A festive gathering to foster introductions.

    “They organized a social at the dance club to help people get to know one another.”

  2. A dance held to raise money, often held for a couple to be married.

  3. A dinner dance event, usually held annually by a company or sporting club.

  4. A social media account; the username or handle thereof, or a link thereto.

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

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle French social, from Latin sociālis (“of or belonging to a companion or companionship or association, social”), from socius (“a companion, fellow, partner, associate, ally”), from sequor (“follow”). Cognate with English seg (“man, companion, fellow”). More at seg.

Similar and opposite words

Opposite
antisocialunsocialasocial

SOCIAL is familiar as an adjective for interaction or community, but it also has a specific noun sense: a gathering arranged for introductions, dancing, or fundraising. The word is common in English, with a frequency count of 28,990. Its tile mix is simple: five letters are worth one point, while C is the only tile worth more.

SOCIAL at a glance

  • SOCIAL has six letters and scores 8 points in Scrabble.
  • C is its only tile worth more than one point; it adds 3.
  • SCOLIA is the sole anagram made from the same six letters.
  • No one-letter word neighbour appears in its neighbour set.

What does SOCIAL mean?

As a noun, a social is a festive gathering, often planned to help people meet. It can also mean a dance or dinner dance held for fundraising, a couple’s celebration, or an annual company or club event. That makes SOCIAL a possible answer when a clue describes a community party rather than a person’s personality.

The familiar adjective describes someone who enjoys company or something related to society. SOCIAL can also refer to a social-media account or its handle. These senses are distinct, so match the clue’s grammar: “a social” points to an event, while “social” before another noun usually describes it.

How SOCIAL works in word games

The 8-point Scrabble total comes from C at 3 points, plus S, O, I, A, and L at 1 point each. That makes SOCIAL a steady six-letter play, not a premium-tile score. The uncommon letter value is concentrated in C, so placing that tile on a bonus square matters more than saving the other letters.

SCOLIA uses exactly the same letters, but it is a far less familiar option. SOCIAL also rhymes with 12 words sharing the IAL ending, including SPECIAL, OFFICIAL, TRIAL, and MEMORIAL. One limitation: the zero one-letter neighbours mean you cannot change just one tile to make a nearby word; check your game's word list before relying on a play.

Rhymes with social

All rhymes

Questions people ask

What does SOCIAL mean as a noun?
As a noun, a social is a gathering arranged for people to meet, dance, or raise money. The word can also describe a dinner dance held by a company or club. In everyday speech, SOCIAL is more often an adjective describing interaction or community.
How many points is SOCIAL worth in Scrabble?
SOCIAL is worth 8 points before any board bonuses. Its C contributes 3 points, and each of its other five letters contributes 1. A premium square under C raises the play’s total, while the remaining tiles have low individual values.
What is the anagram of SOCIAL?
SCOLIA is the only anagram of SOCIAL in the word list. It rearranges all six letters without adding or dropping a tile. SOCIAL is much more familiar in everyday English, so check your game's word list before playing the less common anagram.

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