social ills — Problems that affect many people in a society, such as poverty, crime, or discrimination
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: Problems that affect many people in a society, such as poverty, crime, or discrimination
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsoʊʃəl ɪlz/
Example Sentences
- The mayor promised to eliminate social ills, starting with the city's Wi-Fi being slower than a snail's internet connection.
- Education and economic opportunity are often cited as solutions to many social ills.
- The documentary exposed various social ills, including the shocking fact that some people still use Internet Explorer voluntarily.
social ills
NOUN[/ˈsoʊʃəl ɪlz/]
Problems that affect many people in a society, such as poverty, crime, or discrimination
Reporters expose social ills like poverty, crime, and homelessness on city streets.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Social derives from Latin socialis, meaning 'of companions or society,' from socius (companion, ally). Ills comes from Old English yfel, an early form of 'evil,' originally signifying harm or misfortune. The compound phrase social ills emerged in modern English to denote widespread problems or evils afflicting society as a whole.
Breakdown
Social: Latin socius (companion) + -alis (adjective suffix meaning 'of or relating to'). Ills: Old English yfel (evil, harm) + -s (plural marker), with the modern spelling reflecting Middle English phonetic evolution.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The mayor promised to eliminate social ills, starting with the city's Wi-Fi being slower than a snail's internet connection.”
“Education and economic opportunity are often cited as solutions to many social ills.”
“The documentary exposed various social ills, including the shocking fact that some people still use Internet Explorer voluntarily.”
“Poverty, unemployment, and inadequate healthcare are among the most pressing social ills facing developing nations.”
📚Related Words
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