Meanings
nounsocial proof (uncountable)
- uncountableA psychological and social phenomenon wherein people copy the actions of others if unsure how to behave.
Origin
Coined by Robert Cialdini in his 1984 book Influence.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
social proof. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/social%20proof
MLA
“social proof.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/social%20proof. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “social proof,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/social%20proof.
Source: social proof on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.