socialization
noun
so·cial·i·za·tion
ˌsō-sh(ə-)lə-ˈzā-shən 
1
a
: the process beginning during childhood by which individuals acquire the values, habits, and attitudes of a society
But certainly dealing with shame and its boundaries is soon a constant factor in the socialization of the child, because standards and rules are everywhere …—
Robert Karen
Robert KarenThe most important feature of culture is that it can be transmitted, and thus the young can acquire adaptive repertoires through the learning process or, in sociological terms, the socialization process.—David Mechanic
David Mechanic
b
: social interaction with others
She also made spelling an exercise in socialization, by putting together children who did not seem predisposed to like each other.—Tracy Kidder
Tracy KidderWith its idiosyncratic rhythms, rules and relationships, the coffee bar, these new workers say, has replaced the local bar as a place of socialization.—Kirk Johnson
Kirk Johnson
c
: exposure of a young domestic animal (such as a kitten or puppy) to a variety of people, animals, and situations to minimize fear and aggression and promote friendliness
Some adult dogs, because of a lack of socialization combined with genetic tendencies, can never transfer certain individuals from the "unfamiliar" to the "familiar" category.—Dog Watch
Dog Watch2
: the action or process of making something (such as an industry) socialistic : conversion to collective or governmental ownership and control
the socialization of medicine
In the case of Vietnam the exodus was also related to … the government's decision of March 1978 to close down privately run businesses. This was a move to accelerate the socialization of the economy …—T. E. Vedney
T. E. VedneyExamples of socialization in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Foster families must provide a healthy, safe environment for cats, taking them to veterinarian appointments and adoption centers, and offering socialization, cuddles, exercise, and mental stimulation.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
View gallery - 5 images A hopeful and imaginative approach to social housing that focuses on comfort, community and socialization has earned Appleby Blue Almshouse the UK's top architecture award.
—New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025
Unstructured outdoor play among children has been waning since the early nineteen-eighties, despite mountains of evidence about its benefits for kids’ physical health, executive-function skills, and socialization.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Stress reduction and frequent socialization were also associated with improved cognition in adults experiencing early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
—Gina Park, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for socialization
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Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
View gallery - 5 images A hopeful and imaginative approach to social housing that focuses on comfort, community and socialization has earned Appleby Blue Almshouse the UK's top architecture award.
—New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025
Unstructured outdoor play among children has been waning since the early nineteen-eighties, despite mountains of evidence about its benefits for kids’ physical health, executive-function skills, and socialization.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Stress reduction and frequent socialization were also associated with improved cognition in adults experiencing early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
—Gina Park, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for socialization
Cite this Entry
“Socialization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socialization. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
socialization
noun
so·cial·iza·tion
variants
also British
: the process by which a human being beginning at infancy acquires the habits, beliefs, and accumulated knowledge of society through education and training for adult status
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