Socially describes anything related to how people interact with each other or how they behave in groups. When you act socially, you're engaging with other people: talking, sharing, cooperating, or just being part of a community.

Some people find it easy to be socially confident, walking into a room full of strangers and starting conversations. Others feel socially awkward at first, needing time to warm up. Neither is better or worse: people simply have different social comfort levels.

The word appears in many contexts. Someone who is socially aware notices how their words and actions affect others around them. A student who participates socially at school joins clubs, talks with classmates, and contributes to group projects. Scientists study how animals behave socially, discovering that wolves hunt in coordinated packs and dolphins communicate with complex clicking sounds.

You might hear about socially acceptable behavior, meaning actions that fit the unwritten rules of a community. What's considered socially acceptable changes depending on where you are: talking loudly might be fine at recess but inappropriate in a library.

A related word is antisocial, which can describe someone who avoids others. It can also describe behavior that harms or disrespects other people.