social structure

[ soh-shuhl struhk-cher ]

noun

1. Sociology.
   1. the system or complex of beliefs held by members of a social group.
   2. the system of relations between the constituent groups of a society.
   3. the relationship between or the interrelated arrangement of the social institutions of a society or culture, as of mores, marriage customs, or family.
   4. the pattern of relationships, as of status or friendship, existing among the members of a group or society.

Word History and Origins

Origin of social structure¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

One of the difficulties for large organisations, he has found, is that “they have their own social structures or social norms which can have an impact when they need to take action”.

From BBC

How did their arguments and the underlying social structure form a cohesive whole?

From Salon

Pilot whales are social creatures and live in a matriarch-style social structure, with the oldest female viewed as having the authority in the pod.

From BBC

Pilot whales are social creatures and live in a matriarch-style social structure, with the oldest female seen as having the authority in the pod.

From BBC

If that had anything to do with differences in their social structures, studying their communication systems could help us tell why modern ants succeeded where others failed.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• food chain
• hierarchy
• power structure