Difference Between Social and Societal

The main difference between social and societal is that the adjective social can describe people, whereas the adjective societal cannot describe people.

Both adjectives social and societal mean pertaining to society or social relations. In this context, these two adjectives are interchangeable. The adjective social also has an additional meaning – it also describes people who enjoy being with others. However, the adjective societal does not have this meaning.