To spend time with other people in a friendly way, or to teach someone how to behave in society.
From Latin 'socialis' meaning companionable, derived from 'socius' meaning companion. The '-ize' suffix was added in the 1800s to create the verb form.
Schools don't just teach math and reading—a huge part of them is 'socialization,' teaching kids how to work together, share, and follow social rules. That's why homeschooled kids sometimes go to clubs or sports; adults realized that interacting with peers is just as important as the subjects themselves.
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