social engineering

American  

[soh-shuhl en-juh-neer-ing] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl ˌɛn dʒəˈnɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. Political Science. the manipulation of social beliefs and behaviors by public or private entities through legislation, policy, and investment.

2. a technique that uses psychological manipulation, fraud, or dishonesty to force people to disclose private personal or corporate information, or to take a particular action.

   Hackers are using social engineering to perpetrate phishing scams.

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social engineering British  

noun

1. the manipulation of the social position and function of individuals in order to manage change in a society

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Other Word Forms

• social engineer noun

Etymology

Origin of social engineering

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

So far, the most common use of AI for hacking has been social engineering.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

The ramifications of the lost data could leave Americans susceptible to blackmail, coercion, social engineering or impersonation because the Social Security Administration has so much private and personal data, Borges said.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 4, 2026

On the other hand, HR seems to have a knack for driving these same people to distraction with piles of paperwork, social engineering and ever-changing policies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Jim Browning, a 'scam baiter' who hacks the computers of fraudsters attempting online scams, said anyone can become a victim of scammers, particularly as "what they are good at is social engineering".

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

Taking a life-average in any moral or social engineering feat, in any correct calculation of structural strain, how far over this line cuts through in a man, has to be reckoned with.

From Crowds A Moving-Picture of Democracy by Lee, Gerald Stanley