socialize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal. Common in both everyday and professional/academic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “socialize” mean?
to participate in social activities and interact with others.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to participate in social activities and interact with others; to make something suitable for collective or social use.
To train or condition someone or an animal to behave acceptably in society; to organize according to socialist principles (historical/rare).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb form 'socialise' is the standard British spelling, while 'socialize' is American. The meanings and usage are identical.
Connotations
In a business context, it can imply informal networking crucial for career advancement. Can sometimes carry a slight negative connotation of frivolity if overused (e.g., 'He's always socializing instead of working').
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties in its core meaning. The 'make socialist' meaning is archaic and rarely used in modern contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “socialize” in a Sentence
[subject] socializes[subject] socializes [object] (e.g., a child)[subject] socializes with [companion]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “socialize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team plans to socialise at the local curry house after the project ends.
- It's important to socialise puppies with different people and environments.
American English
- The new policy was socialized among department heads before the official announcement.
- He finds it hard to socialize at large parties.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
To build professional relationships informally. 'The conference includes dinners to allow attendees to socialize.'
Academic
In sociology/psychology: the process by which individuals learn the norms of their culture. 'Primary agents socialize the child.'
Everyday
To spend time with friends or acquaintances for enjoyment. 'We socialized at the pub over the weekend.'
Technical
In animal training/ethology: to acclimate an animal to human contact. 'It's crucial to socialize the kittens before adoption.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “socialize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “socialize”
- Using it transitively for people incorrectly (e.g., 'I socialized him' is wrong unless you are a sociologist talking about upbringing; correct: 'I socialized WITH him').
- Confusing spelling between BrE '-ise' and AmE '-ize'.
- Using 'socialize' to mean 'use social media' (incorrect; use 'post on' or 'use').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Socialize' is broader, covering any social interaction. 'Mingle' specifically implies moving around and talking to many different people in a group setting.
Not always. It can be neutral (describing an activity) or negative in contexts where it is seen as avoiding work ('He's always socializing by the water cooler').
Yes, commonly in pet training contexts. It means to train an animal to be comfortable and behave appropriately around humans, other animals, and new situations.
The main noun is 'socialization' (AmE) / 'socialisation' (BrE), referring to the process of socializing or being socialized.
to participate in social activities and interact with others.
Socialize is usually neutral to formal. common in both everyday and professional/academic contexts. in register.
Socialize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsəʊ.ʃəl.aɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsoʊ.ʃəl.aɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Socialize the idea/proposal (business: to share it informally for feedback)”
- “Socialized medicine (AmE: publicly funded healthcare system).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SOCIAL' + 'IZE' -> to make something or someone act in a SOCIAL way.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A NETWORK (to socialize is to connect nodes in the network).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does it mean to 'socialize a proposal'?