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Definitions

social engineering

[soh-shuhl en-juh-neer-ing] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl ˌɛn dʒəˈnɪər ɪŋ /

NOUN

applied social science

Synonyms

WEAK

social planning social work sociology

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hackers more often break into companies using previously discovered bugs, or by stealing login credentials or using social engineering techniques.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

So far, the most common use of AI for hacking has been social engineering.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

The ramifications of the lost data could leave Americans susceptible to blackmail, coercion, social engineering or impersonation because the Social Security Administration has so much private and personal data, Borges said.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 4, 2026

Jim Browning, a 'scam baiter' who hacks the computers of fraudsters attempting online scams, said anyone can become a victim of scammers, particularly as "what they are good at is social engineering".

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

The organization of sound economic groups is a problem in the field of social engineering.

From The Next Step A Plan for Economic World Federation by Nearing, Scott