Collocation for IELTS: Society

1. social services

Meaning: a system that is organized by the government to help people who have financial or family problems; the department or the people who provide this help

Example: Governments should assist poor families through the provision of adequate social services.

2. domestic violence

Meaning: violence among family members in the home

Example: Children who witness domestic violence between parents often develop problems.

3. social conscience

Meaning: the state of being aware of the problems that affect a lot of people in society, such as being poor or having no home, and wanting to do something to help these people

Example: Charities depend on the social conscience of the public in order to obtain donations and recruit volunteer helpers.

4. social networking sites

Meaning: a website that you use to communicate with people who share your interests

Example: An excellent way to learn another language is to make friends on social networking sites with people who speak that language.

5. social and community centres

Meaning: places where people who live in the same area can meet for events or to do different activities

Example: Elderly people who live alone are able to make friends and enjoy life more if local authorities provide social and community centres.

6. a multicultural society

Meaning: a society which includes people of different origins, traditions and languages

Example: Immigration has led to the development of multicultural societies in the US, Europe and Australia.

7. minority groups

Meaning: small groups within a community that are different because of their origin, religion, language or traditions

Example: Children from minority groups are sometimes victims of bullying at school.

8. segregate somebody (from somebody)

Meaning: to separate people of different races, religions or sexes and treat them in a different way

Example: Although society no longer tolerates the policy of segregating whites from blacks, many people of different origins live in their own separate communities.

9. todiscriminate (on the grounds of something)

Meaning: to treat one person or group worse/better than another in an unfair way

Example: It is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of race, sex or religion.

10. constitute/be a form of racial/race discrimination

Meaning: to be considered to be treating others in a different way because they are not of the same colour or race.

Example: Actions which constitute a form of race/racial discrimination are now outlawed in most countries of the world.

11. colour bar

Meaning: a social system which does not allow black people the same rights as white people

Example: South Africa’s colour bar made marriages between different races illegal.

12. asylum seeker

Meaning: a person who has been forced to leave their own country because they are in danger and who arrives in another country asking to be allowed to stay there

Example: Hostels for asylum seekers now exist in many European countries.

13. to grant refugee status

Meaning: to be recognised by a government as a person who has been forced to leave their country because of war, political or religious reasons

Example: As well as helping those in need overseas, governments must also help those who have been granted refugee status and now live in the host country.

14. todeport somebody

Meaning: to force somebody to leave a country, usually because they have broken the law or because they have no legal right to be there

Example: The government refused to grant them refugee status and deported them.

15. to be prejudiced (against/in favour of somebody/something)

Meaning: having an unreasonable dislike of or preference for somebody/something, especially based on their race, religion, sex, age etc.

Example: Some companies are prejudiced against older applicants during the interview process.

16. to integrate into society

Meaning: to become accepted as a member of a social group, especially when a person comes from a different culture

Example: Children from minority groups often find it easy to integrate into society because they attend schools which are multicultural.

17. to be socially acceptable

Meaning: agreed or approved of by most people in a society

Example: Smoking in public places is no longer socially acceptable in many countries.

18. to develop social skills

Meaning: to become better at communicating and interacting in different situations

Example: Playing team sports at school helps children to develop social skills which will help them in adult life.

19. to be poverty-stricken

Meaning: to be extremely poor, having almost no money

Example: Many non-government organisations work with people who are poverty-stricken in developing countries.

20. economic migrants

Meaning: people who move from their own countries to a new country in order to find work or to have a better standard of living

Example: As a result of global inequalities of wealth, many economic migrants have fled to developed countries.

21. the consumer society

Meaning: a society in which buying and selling are considered extremely important

Example: Money and possessions are considered to be more important than family and friends in today’s consumer society.

22. an egalitarian society

Meaning: a society in which everyone has the same rights and opportunities

Example: I believe that crime would be reduced if we lived in a more egalitarian society.

23. social mobility

Meaning: the movement of individuals from one class in society to another

Example: Free access to education has resulted in greater social mobility in modern society

24. the migration of labour

Meaning: the movement of workers from one place to another

Example:    The migration of labour from the countryside to the cities is a feature of modern society.

25. sweated labour

Meaning: hard work that is done for low wages in poor conditions; the people who do this work

Example: Conditions of sweated labour still exist in many developing countries.

26. socio-economic changes

Meaning: changes relating to the society and economy of a country

Example:    Mass migration to cities is a result of socio-economic changes that include the industrialisation of agriculture.

27. thegrass roots

Meaning: ordinary people in society or in an organization, rather than the leaders or people who make decisions

Example: In order to bring about changes in communities, local people must be involved at the grass rootslevel in making and implementing decisions.

28. industrial action

Meaning: action that workers take, especially stopping work, to protest to their employers about something

Example: The right to take industrial action is one way in which workers are able to protect their living standards.

29. asit-in

Meaning: a protest in which a group of workers, students, etc. refuse to leave their factory, college, etc. until people listen to their demands

Example: the factory workers decided to hold a sit-in.

30. anoutcry (at/over/against something)

Meaning: a reaction of anger or strong protest shown by people in public

Example: The new tax provoked a public outcry.