social evil

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of social evil¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

“The public sees drug use as a ‘social evil,’” Jang said.

From Los Angeles Times

Listing euthanasia as a “social evil,” he criticized supporters of assisted suicide as providing “false pretenses of a supposedly dignified and ‘sweet’ death that is more ‘salty’ than the waters of the sea.”

From Washington Times

"Each episode in this season takes up one structural social evil that is strengthened by marriage," says Debashree Mukherjee, a film scholar and professor at Columbia University.

From BBC

"Dowry is a social evil and we are committed to ending it. I have directed all police stations to give proper help to any woman who approaches them," Mr Mishra told me.

From BBC

"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