socially

IPA/ˈsəʊʃəli/
KK[sˈoʃəli]IPA/ˈsəʊʃəli/

socially — adverb

1. connected with situations where people spend time together for enjoyment — being

1.adverbB1
Definition

connected with situations where people spend time together for enjoyment — being with friends, going to parties, meeting new people, or sharing a meal.

Example

Ryo felt socially awkward and stayed near the food table talking to the host's dog.

collocation: socially awkward

Eshe used to be shy, but she feels socially confident since joining the drama club.

collocation: socially confident

Common collocations
  • socially awkward
  • socially confident
  • socially active
  • socially anxious
  • struggle socially
  • socially skilled
Synonyms
  • sociably

    describes the manner itself (friendly, pleasant), not the situation; 'She chatted sociably with the guests' focuses on how she behaved, not the fact of being in a social setting.

  • in company

    more formal or literary; 'He is awkward in company' is a set phrase, less flexible than 'socially awkward'.

  • outgoing

    adjective only, describes a personality trait rather than an adverbial modifier.

Antonyms
  • alone

    the opposite of being in a social situation; 'She prefers to eat alone rather than socially.'

Grammar Patterns

socially + adjective

verb + socially (manner)

Usage Note

Frequently modifies adjectives describing a person's skill or comfort level in group settings: socially awkward, socially confident, socially skilled, socially anxious. The verb pattern 'struggles socially' is also common in informal and semi-formal contexts.

Common Mistakes

I like to be socially with my friends.
I like to spend time socially with my friends.
'socially' modifies a verb or adjective, not a prepositional phrase on its own.

2. regarding how a society is organized, especially concerning its values, rules, o

2.adverbB2
Definition

regarding how a society is organized, especially concerning its values, rules, opportunities, and differences between groups of people.

Example

The company claims to be socially responsible by donating profits to local education programmes.

collocation: socially responsible

Socially disadvantaged families often have less access to good schools and healthcare services.

collocation: socially disadvantaged

Common collocations
  • socially responsible
  • socially disadvantaged
  • socially acceptable
  • socially constructed
  • socially conscious
  • socially progressive
Synonyms
  • societally

    near-synonym but less common; 'societally' is used more in academic writing for abstract structures.

  • culturally

    overlaps when talking about shared values but focuses on beliefs and traditions rather than organization.

  • collectively

    emphasizes the group acting together rather than the structure of society.

Antonyms
  • individually

    contrasts with the societal perspective; 'Socially we benefit, but individually it costs us money.'

Grammar Patterns

socially + adjective

Socially, + main clause

Usage Note

Commonly paired with adjectives that describe ethical positions, access to resources, or conformity to norms: socially responsible, socially disadvantaged, socially acceptable, socially constructed. Can also open a sentence as a discourse adverb (e.g. 'Socially, the country has become more divided').

Common Mistakes

He is socially acceptable.
His behaviour is socially acceptable.
'socially acceptable' describes actions, customs, or norms, not a person directly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All three describe behaviour around other people, but they differ in scope and nuance. Socially is the broadest adverb, simply locating an action within a social setting: 'He is socially active' means he takes part in group activities. Sociably narrows the focus to the manner of interaction — a friendly, pleasant, easy-going way of being with others: 'She chatted sociably with the guests' describes warmth, not mere participation. Gregariously goes further, implying a strong natural drive to be around people; it suits descriptions of personality or animal behaviour more than everyday social choices: 'He gregariously moved from group to group at the conference.' A learner choosing among them should ask: am I describing the setting (socially), the pleasantness of the interaction (sociably), or the person's fundamental love of company (gregariously)?

socially ↗sociably ↗gregariously ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • socially + adjective + noun: socially responsible company
  • socially disadvantaged group
  • socially active person

Adverbs

  • socially + adverb: socially together

Phrases

  • socially and culturally
  • socially and economically
  • socially and politically

Prepositions

  • socially with

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Socially comes from the Latin word 'socialis', meaning 'of companionship' or 'allied', which itself comes from 'socius', meaning 'companion' or 'ally'. The word entered English through Old French in the 1500s, and the -ly adverb suffix was added to form 'socially' by the early 1600s. Originally it meant 'in a way that involves companionship', and it later developed the broader sense of 'relating to society as a whole' during the 1800s as discussions of social structure became more common.