The word “social” originates from the Latin word “socius,” which means “companion” or “ally.” From this, the Latin term “socialis” was derived, meaning “pertaining to companionship” or “relating to society.”

Historically, a concept similar to “social” can be found in ancient Rome and in the writings of philosophers like Aristotle in ancient Greece. Aristotle famously referred to humans as “zoon politikon,” meaning “political animals” or “social beings.” However, the modern sense of the word “social” began to gain prominence during the Enlightenment period in the 18th century, when thinkers started focusing more on social relationships and structures.

In summary, while the concept of “social” dates back to antiquity, its use in a more contemporary sense became more common from the 18th century onwards.