noun
1Space available or intended for social interaction. As a count noun: an area set aside for social interaction.
In early use probably not as a fixed collocation.
2Sociology
The gap, in terms of social status, that is felt to exist between members of one social or ethnic group and those of another.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Garth Wilkinson (1812–1899), Swedenborgian writer and homoeopath. From social + space.
Are You Learning English? Here Are Our Top English Tips