social event — gathering
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
An occasion where people come together to meet, talk, and enjoy themselves, such as a party, dinner, or celebration.
Say it like a native
Textbook I am required to attend a formal social function this evening.
Native I've got a work social tonight.
In casual speech natives shorten it to 'a social' or 'a get-together'; 'social function' sounds stiff/corporate.
Pattern: social event (noun phrase); attend/go to/organize a social event
In use
- The company is organizing a social event for all employees next Friday.daily life
- In my opinion, attending social events is important because it helps people build stronger relationships and reduce stress.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I went to a social event for meet new people.
✓ I went to a social event to meet new people.
'To meet' (purpose), not 'for meet'.
Common collocations
a social event— attend, host, work, networking
Don't confuse it
Not the same as a formal meeting or business conference; a social event is more about relaxing and connecting with others.