Which term is used to describe death by social means, such as loss of social role?

• A. Brain death
• B. Clinical death
• C. Biological death
• D. Social death

Answer: (D)

Social death describes the condition where a person is treated as no longer a member of the social group, losing social roles, status, and meaningful relationships. It focuses on the social consequences rather than physical status. When someone is ostracized, stigmatized, or stripped of roles—like losing a job, family connections, or community participation—they can feel dead to the social world even while their body remains alive. This is different from brain death, clinical death, or biological death, which refer to physical cessation of brain function, heartbeat/breathing, or irreversible bodily failure. So, the concept that captures death by social means is social death.