Social vs. Sociable — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
"Social" pertains to society or its organization, whereas "sociable" describes a person's willingness to engage in social interactions.
Difference Between Social and Sociable
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The term "social" is a broad adjective that relates to society, its structures, or collective living. When something is described as "social," it concerns the interactions and organizations of humans. For instance, social gatherings are events where people come together to interact.
"Sociable," on the other hand, refers to an individual's characteristic of enjoying socializing with others. A sociable person is one who is friendly, outgoing, and inclined towards social interactions. It's more about the personal trait of seeking and enjoying company.
"Social" can be applied to entities beyond individuals, such as groups, parties, or events. It is used to describe actions or activities that involve a community or public. For example, social networks refer to platforms designed for people to interact digitally.
In contrast, "sociable" is typically used to describe a person's behavior or disposition. It's not used for groups or inanimate entities but for individuals who exhibit a friendly and interactive nature. A sociable host, for example, is someone who actively engages with their guests.
While "social" has a broader societal context and can encompass anything from social studies to social media, "sociable" remains closely tied to the temperament of an individual. The former is about structure and interaction at a collective level, while the latter is about personal social traits.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Pertaining to society or collective groups.
Willingness or tendency to socialize.
Usage Context
Broader societal context.
Individual personality trait.
Applicability
Can be used for people, events, constructs.
Primarily used to describe people.
Examples
Social norms, social media.
A sociable individual, a sociable atmosphere.
Connotation
Neutral, often structural.
Positive, relates to pleasant social behavior.
Compare with Definitions
Social
Pertaining to human society.
She studies social anthropology at the university.
Sociable
Inclined to socialize.
He was feeling sociable and struck up a conversation with everyone he met.
Social
Designed for people to interact.
He spends much time on social media platforms.
Sociable
Enjoying company.
She's very sociable and loves large gatherings.
Social
Welfare or communal living.
The government introduced new social welfare policies.
Sociable
Amenable to companionship.
She found her coworker to be quite sociable during lunch.
Social
Social organisms, including humans, live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary/involuntary.
Sociable
The sociable or buddy bike or side by side bicycle is a bicycle that supports two riders who sit next to one another, in contrast to a tandem bicycle, where the riders sit fore and aft. The name "sociable" alludes to the relative ease with which the two cyclists can speak with each other, unlike on the tandem.
Social
Relating to society or its organization
The social structure of Europe had become more fluid
Alcoholism is recognized as a major social problem
Sociable
Willing to talk and engage in activities with other people; friendly
Being a sociable person, Eva loved entertaining
Social
Needing companionship and therefore best suited to living in communities
We are social beings as well as individuals
Sociable
An open carriage with facing side seats.
Social
(of a bird) gregarious; breeding or nesting in colonies.
Sociable
An informal social gathering
A church sociable
Social
An informal social gathering, especially one organized by the members of a particular club or group
A church social
Sociable
Fond of the company of others; gregarious
A sociable party guest.
Social
Short for social security
Not everyone's on the social and taking drugs
Sociable
Marked by or affording occasion for agreeable conversation and conviviality.
Social
Of or relating to human society and its modes of organization
Social classes.
Social problems.
A social issue.
Sociable
A social.
Social
Of or relating to rank and status in society
Social standing.
Sociable
(of a person) Tending to socialize or be social.
He's normally pretty quiet, but he gets much more sociable around women.
Social
Of, relating to, or occupied with matters affecting human welfare
Social programs.
Sociable
Offering opportunities for conversation; characterized by much conversation.
A sociable party
Social
Interacting with other people and living in communities
Humans are social creatures.
Sociable
(archaic) Capable of being, or fit to be, united in one body or company; associable.
Social
(Biology) Living together in organized groups or similar close aggregates
Ants are social insects.
Sociable
(obsolete) No longer hostile; friendly.
Social
Inclined to seek out or enjoy the company of others; sociable
He's outgoing and very social.
Sociable
A sociable person.
Social
Spent in or marked by friendly relations or companionship
How has your social life been lately?.
Sociable
(historical) A four-wheeled open carriage with seats facing each other.
Social
Intended for convivial activities
A social club.
Sociable
A bicycle or tricycle for two persons side by side.
Social
(Linguistics) Of or relating to a variety of a language that is used by a group of people sharing some characteristic, such as ethnicity or income level, and differs in pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary from the standard variety.
Sociable
A couch with a curved S-shaped back.
Social
An informal social gathering, as of the members of a church congregation.
Sociable
(US) An informal party or church meeting for purposes of socializing.
Social
(Informal) A Social Security number.
Sociable
Capable of being, or fit to be, united in one body or company; associable.
They are sociable parts united into one body.
Social
Being extroverted or outgoing.
James is a very social guy; he knows lots of people.
Sociable
Inclined to, or adapted for, society; ready to unite with others; fond of companions; social.
Society is no comfort to one not sociable.
What can be more uneasy to this sociable creature than the dry, pensive retirements of solitude?
Social
Of or relating to society.
Teresa feels uncomfortable in certain social situations.
Unemployment is a social problem.
Sociable
Ready to converse; inclined to talk with others; not taciturn or reserved.
Social
(Internet) Relating to social media or social networks.
Social gaming
Sociable
Affording opportunites for conversation; characterized by much conversation; as, a sociable party.
Social
(rare) Relating to a nation's allies.
Sociable
No longer hostile; friendly.
Social
Cooperating or growing in groups.
A social insect
Sociable
A gathering of people for social purposes; an informal party or reception; as, a church sociable.
Social
A festive gathering to foster introductions.
They organized a social at the dance club to get people to know each other.
Sociable
A carriage having two double seats facing each other, and a box for the driver.
Social
(Canadian Prairies) A dance held to raise money, often held for a couple to be married.
Sociable
A party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity
Social
Ellipsis of social security
Fred hated going down to the social to sign on.
Sociable
Inclined to or conducive to companionship with others;
A sociable occasion
Enjoyed a sociable chat
A sociable conversation
Americans are sociable and gregarious
Social
Ellipsis of social security number
What's your social?
Sociable
Friendly and pleasant;
A sociable gathering
Social
A dinner dance event, usually held annually by a company or sporting club.
Sociable
Friendly and outgoing.
Their sociable puppy loves meeting new people.
Social
(Canada) social studies
Sociable
Interactive and engaging.
At parties, he's the most sociable one, always telling stories.
Social
Ellipsis of social media
Social
A social media account.
Social
Of or pertaining to society; relating to men living in society, or to the public as an aggregate body; as, social interest or concerns; social pleasure; social benefits; social happiness; social duties.
Social
Ready or disposed to mix in friendly converse; companionable; sociable; as, a social person.
Social
Consisting in union or mutual intercourse.
Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st notSocial communication.
Social
Naturally growing in groups or masses; - said of many individual plants of the same species.
Social
Living in communities consisting of males, females, and neuters, as do ants and most bees.
Social
A party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity
Social
Relating to human society and its members;
Social institutions
Societal evolution
Societal forces
Social legislation
Social
Living together or enjoying life in communities or organized groups;
Human beings are social animals
Spent a relaxed social evening
Immature social behavior
Social
Relating to or belonging to or characteristic of high society;
Made fun of her being so social and high-toned
A social gossip colum
The society page
Social
Composed of sociable people or formed for the purpose of sociability;
A purely social club
The church has a large social hall
A social director
Social
(of birds and animals) tending to move or live together in groups or colonies of the same kind;
Ants are social insects
The herding instinct in sheep or cattle
Swarming behavior in bees
Social
Marked by friendly companionship with others;
A social cup of coffee
Social
Related to society.
Social issues like inequality affect many communities.
Social
Group interactions.
They organized a social event to welcome new members.
Common Curiosities
Can an introvert be social?
Yes, an introvert can partake in social activities without being sociable.
Are social skills and sociable nature the same?
Not quite; social skills refer to abilities in social settings, while being sociable is about the disposition to socialize.
Can a company be described as sociable?
No, "sociable" describes individuals, not entities.
Does sociable mean you are extroverted?
Often, but not necessarily; it means you enjoy and are good at socializing.
Is being social online the same as being sociable?
Being social online means engaging on social platforms, while being sociable refers to one's nature to enjoy such engagement.
Does a social event require sociable people?
A social event doesn't require sociable people, but sociable people may enhance it.
Can "social" describe an environment?
Yes, if it refers to a setting or system within society.
Can "sociable" describe a pet?
Yes, pets can be described as sociable if they are friendly and like company.
Can social policies be sociable?
No, policies can be social in nature but not sociable, as that applies to personality traits.
Can someone be social but not sociable?
Yes, one can participate in social contexts without being particularly friendly or outgoing.
Can "social" refer to a person?
Yes, but it usually describes their interactions or role in society, not their personality.
Is a social worker necessarily sociable?
Professionally, yes, but sociability is about their personal inclination to socialize.
Can a social issue be called sociable?
No, "sociable" doesn't apply to issues, which are termed "social" concerns.
Is "sociable" ever used in a non-personal context?
Rarely, if ever; it's almost exclusively used to describe people.
Is "social" always positive?
Not necessarily; "social" is neutral and can describe positive, negative, or neutral societal aspects.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
