1A social phenomenon viewed as an evil or inconvenience.
‘a town where the two main social diseases are interbreeding and illiteracy’
‘overconsumption has become a social disease that has reached epidemic proportions’
2dated A sexually transmitted disease.
‘Sadly, actual sex may not produce the same effect because it exposes you to social diseases that may increase the risk of a problematic prostate.’
‘All you have to do with this social custom is to grab the other person first and make kissy-kissy noises beside their ear, while muttering, ‘Don't get too close to me, I've got a social disease.’’
‘A major cookie manufacturer reported catastrophic third-quarter earnings after a model carrying a plug for its line of products died of a social disease.’
‘Self-exiled to the Marquesas archipelago, after a burst of profound creativity, he expired miserably in 1903 from the effects of social diseases and more-than-social drinking.’
‘In the past 20 years, the number of people contracting social diseases has increased rapidly in China.’
‘They spread their social diseases with careless aggression.’
Are You Learning English? Here Are Our Top English Tips