Definition

1. Noun:
   • A connection, association, or involvement between individuals or groups: A "social relation" refers to any manner in which people or social entities are connected to or interact with one another within a society.
   • The state or condition of being related in a social context: It denotes the structured patterns of interaction, roles, and expectations that define connections between members of a community.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The employer-employee dynamic is a fundamental social relation in capitalist economies.
  • Trust is a crucial element in any lasting social relation.
  • Anthropologists study the social relations within tribal communities.

Advanced Usage

• "To enter into a social relation": to initiate or become part of a structured interaction.
  • By signing the contract, the two companies entered into a formal social relation.
• "The fabric of social relations": the complex, interconnected network of all relationships in a society.
  • The crisis threatened to tear the very fabric of social relations in the village.

Variants and Related Words

• Social relationship (n): Often used interchangeably with "social relation," though sometimes implying a more personal or enduring connection.
  • Their social relationship evolved from colleagues to close friends.
• Interpersonal relation (n): A relation between persons, a subset of social relations focusing on direct individual connections.

Synonyms

• Interconnection: A mutual connection between two or more things.
• Association: A connection or cooperative link between people or organizations.

Related Phrases

• Social bond: A feeling of connection and belonging between individuals.
• Network tie: A specific connection within a social network.

Related Concepts

• Social structure: The organized pattern of social relationships and institutions that together compose society.
• Social interaction: The process by which people act and react in relation to others, forming the basis of social relations.

Noun

1. a relation between living organisms (especially between people)