social contract

American  

[soh-shuhl kon-trakt] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl ˈkɒn trækt /

noun

1. the voluntary agreement among individuals by which, according to any of various theories, as of Hobbes, Locke, or Rousseau, organized society is brought into being and invested with the right to secure mutual protection and welfare or to regulate the relations among its members.

2. an agreement for mutual benefit between an individual or group and the government or community as a whole.

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social contract British  

noun

1. (in the theories of Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, and others) an agreement, entered into by individuals, that results in the formation of the state or of organized society, the prime motive being the desire for protection, which entails the surrender of some or all personal liberties

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Etymology

Origin of social contract

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

A spokeswoman said that OpenAI feels a responsibility to its users to “uphold our end of the social contract by keeping people safe, living up to our principles and delivering real value.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Japan has an incredible social contract, and has handled the birth decline so much better than most countries would.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

This recent death may be a signal that social contract is beginning to break.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2025

It’s no secret that much of this country’s social contract rests on the ability to access little sweet treats to break up the painful slog of eking out a living.

From Slate • Mar. 6, 2025

Amalgamation, centralized conflict resolution, decision making, economic redistribution, and kleptocratic religion don’t just develop automatically through a Rousseauesque social contract.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond