social evil

American  

noun

1. anything detrimental to a society or its citizens, as alcoholism, organized crime, etc.

2. prostitution.

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Etymology

Origin of social evil

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

"He agreed that it was a social evil," she told me, adding that it made her think that he was different from the others she had met so far.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2023

“These child marriages have become a social evil and as a result the mortality rates have been quite high,” he said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2023

In the new book, Cosby weaves another social evil, homophobia, into his speeding narrative.

From Washington Post • Jul. 2, 2021

There are clip-clop ole West numbers, solemn hymns of uplift and lamentation and sardonic Brechtian ditties of social evil.

From New York Times • Jun. 12, 2017

In entering upon its labors, the Bureau regarded it of fundamental importance to make a careful study of the social evil in this country and in Europe.

From Commercialized Prostitution in New York City by Kneeland, George Jackson