Phrase guide

social engineering

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Use of numerical data to inform social programs.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, sciences, social-science, sociology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale, in order to produce desired characteristics in a target population.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: political-science, social-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The practice of tricking a user into giving, or giving access to, sensitive information, thereby bypassing most or all protection.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Qualifier: computer security

Examples

  • Meronyms: smishing, phishing, vishing

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

present participle and gerund of social engineer

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 數據社會學 /数据社会学 — use of numerical data
  • Czech: sociální inženýrství — use of numerical data
  • Finnish: tiedon hyödyntäminen — use of numerical data
  • Greek: κοινωνική μηχανική (koinonikí michanikí) — use of numerical data
  • Indonesian: rekayasa sosial — use of numerical data
  • Irish: innealtóireacht shóisialta — use of numerical data
  • Polish: inżynieria społeczna — use of numerical data
  • Spanish: ingeniería social — use of numerical data
  • Chinese Mandarin: 社會工程 /社会工程 (shèhuì gōngchéng) — efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale
  • Czech: sociální inženýrství — efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale
  • Finnish: asennekasvatus — efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale
  • German: Social Engineering — efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale
  • Greek: κοινωνική μηχανική (koinonikí michanikí) — efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale
  • Indonesian: rekayasa sosial — efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale
  • Irish: innealtóireacht shóisialta — efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale
  • Polish: inżynieria społeczna — efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale
  • Spanish: ingeniería social — efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale
  • Chinese Mandarin: 社交工程 — practice of tricking a user
  • Czech: sociální inženýrství — practice of tricking a user
  • Finnish: sosiaalinen manipulointi — practice of tricking a user
  • Finnish: käyttäjän manipulointi — practice of tricking a user
  • Georgian: სოციალური ინჟინერია (socialuri inžineria) — practice of tricking a user
  • German: Social Engineering — practice of tricking a user
  • Greek: κοινωνική μηχανική (koinonikí michanikí) — practice of tricking a user
  • Indonesian: rekayasa sosial — practice of tricking a user
  • Irish: innealtóireacht shóisialta — practice of tricking a user
  • Polish: inżynieria społeczna — practice of tricking a user
  • Portuguese: engenharia social — practice of tricking a user
  • Russian: социальная инженерия (socialʹnaja inženerija) — practice of tricking a user
  • Spanish: ingeniería social — practice of tricking a user