English Meaning & Definitions
An unwritten rule or standard of behavior that is considered acceptable or expected by a particular social group or culture.
- “Shaking hands when meeting someone new is a common social norm in many Western cultures.”
- “Violating a social norm, such as talking loudly in a library, often results in social disapproval.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “social norm”.
The term combines 'social,' derived from the Latin 'socialis' (allied, devoted to companionship), and 'norm,' from the Latin 'norma' (a carpenter's square, rule, or pattern). In sociology, the concept gained prominence in the early 20th century to describe the informal, unwritten rules that govern behavior within a society.
Think of a 'social norm' as a 'social form'—it is the shape or mold that society expects you to fit into.
Frequently Asked Questions About “social norm”
1. What is the meaning of “social norm” in English?
In English, social norm (noun) is defined as: “An unwritten rule or standard of behavior that is considered acceptable or expected by a particular social group or culture.”.
2. How do you use “social norm” in a sentence?
“Shaking hands when meeting someone new is a common social norm in many Western cultures.”
3. What are English synonyms of “social norm”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “social norm”?
The term combines 'social,' derived from the Latin 'socialis' (allied, devoted to companionship), and 'norm,' from the Latin 'norma' (a carpenter's square, rule, or pattern). In sociology, the concept gained prominence in the early 20th century to describe the informal, unwritten rules that govern behavior within a society.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.