A point on a wall for connecting electrical equipment to the power supply; a device into which a bulb or plug is inserted to make a connection; a hollow part in the body where a bone or organ fits; an opening in a structure where another part fits in; a tool head that fits over a bolt or nut.
She needed to charge her phone before the meeting. She looked around the café for an available socket near a comfortable seat. She spotted one by the window, sat down, and plugged in just in time.
This meaning is about the point on a wall where you plug in electrical devices — a charger, a lamp, a kettle. Imagine arriving at a hotel room and looking around for a socket to charge your phone because the battery is almost dead. This is the socket — the opening in the wall connected to the electricity supply. You might say “there aren’t enough sockets in this room” or “plug the lamp into the socket by the bed.” Or picture a student in a library fighting over the only available socket near their desk. The word points to something we depend on every day without thinking about it. ✏️ This is mainly British English — in American English, people say “outlet” instead of socket for the wall point.
Vivid example: The airport lounge was packed with tired travellers. Everyone was hunting for a free socket to charge their devices before boarding. She finally found one tucked behind a row of seats in the corner.
This meaning is about the part of a piece of equipment where you insert something — like screwing a light bulb into its holder, or plugging a cable into a connection point. Imagine a light going out in your hallway and you unscrew the old bulb from the socket to put a new one in. This is the socket — the holder that receives and connects the bulb or plug. You might say “screw the bulb into the socket” or “plug the microphone into the audio socket on your laptop.” Or picture someone trying to find the right socket on the back of a TV for their HDMI cable. The word describes any receiver that something plugs or fits into. ✏️ This meaning covers light bulb holders, headphone jacks, USB ports — anything designed to receive a plug or connector.
Vivid example: The kitchen light had been flickering for days and finally went out completely. He climbed on a chair, unscrewed the dead bulb from the socket, and replaced it with a new one. The room lit up instantly.
This meaning is about a natural hollow space in the body where a bone or organ sits — most commonly the eye socket or the shoulder socket. Imagine a boxer getting punched so hard that his eyes look sunken deep into their sockets the next morning. This is the socket — the bony hollow that holds and protects something inside. You might hear a doctor say “the bone popped out of its socket” or “there was bruising around the eye socket.” Or think about dislocating your shoulder — the ball of the bone comes out of the socket joint. The word suggests a protective hollow designed to hold something in place. ✏️ “Eye socket” is the most common combination — it means the bony area around and behind the eye that protects it.
Vivid example: The rugby player went down hard after a brutal tackle. The team doctor rushed over and realised his shoulder had popped out of its socket. They carefully helped him off the field for treatment.
This meaning is about any hollow part in a structure or object that is designed so another piece can fit into it — a mechanical or structural connection. Imagine assembling furniture and sliding a wooden leg into a socket in the base of a table until it clicks into place. This is the socket — a shaped opening that receives and holds another part securely. You might read “the lower end of the bracket fits into a socket in the support” or “the pole slots into a socket in the ground.” Or picture a flagpole base with a deep socket built into the pavement. The word describes any receiving hole designed to hold something firmly. ✏️ This is the general mechanical meaning — anywhere one part fits snugly inside another, the receiving part is the socket.
Vivid example: The workers were setting up the outdoor stage for the festival. Each metal pole had to slide perfectly into a socket built into the platform base. Once everything locked into place, the structure felt rock solid.
This meaning is about a specific type of tool — a hollow metal piece that fits over the head of a bolt or nut so you can tighten or loosen it. Imagine a mechanic working under a car, reaching for the right socket to fit over a stubborn bolt on the engine. This is the socket — a cylindrical tool that grips the nut from all sides. You might hear “pass me the 10-millimetre socket” or “I need a socket set to change this tyre.” Or picture someone opening a toolbox full of sockets in different sizes, each one designed for a different bolt. The word points to a precise, purpose-built tool for mechanical work. ✏️ Sockets usually come in a “socket set” — a collection of different sizes that attach to a single ratchet handle.
Vivid example: His car had a flat tyre on the side of the road in the rain. He grabbed his socket set from the boot and found the right size to loosen the wheel nuts. Within twenty minutes he was back on his way.
Examples from the street:
“Don’t stick anything in the socket — you’ll get an electric shock.” → Don’t put anything into the electrical outlet — you could electrocute yourself
“The lamp doesn’t work — I think the socket is faulty.” → The light isn’t functioning — I think the wall power point is broken
“He fell off his bike and nearly knocked his shoulder out of its socket.” → He came off his bicycle and almost dislocated his shoulder joint
Socket as an electrical outlet — VERY COMMON:
– a power/electrical/wall socket → the point on a wall where you plug in electrical devices
– plug (something) into a/the socket → connect a device to a power point
– unplug (something) from the socket → disconnect a device from the power point
– a socket near/by (somewhere) → the location of a power point in relation to something
– a faulty/broken/dead socket → a power point that doesn’t work properly
Socket as a hollow space that holds something in place:
– eye socket → the bony hollow in the skull where the eyeball sits
– pull/pop/knock out of its socket → dislocate something from where it naturally sits
– a tooth socket → the hole in the jawbone where a tooth is rooted
– a joint socket → the cup-shaped part of a joint that holds a bone in place
Socket in technical/DIY contexts:
– a socket wrench/set → a type of tool used for tightening and loosening nuts and bolts
– a light/bulb socket → the fitting where a light bulb is screwed or pushed in
– a socket for (a connection) → a port or receptacle designed to receive a plug or connector
Example Sentences
1. There aren’t enough power sockets in this room — we’ll need an extension lead
→ There aren’t sufficient electrical outlets in this space — we’ll need a cable with multiple connection points.
2. Just plug the charger into the socket behind the sofa and leave it overnight
→ Simply connect the charging cable to the outlet behind the couch and let it charge until morning.
3. Make sure you unplug the iron from the socket before you leave the house
→ Be certain you disconnect the clothing press from the wall outlet before you go out.
4. The electrician said the socket in the kitchen was faulty and needed replacing immediately
→ The person who fixes wiring said the power point in the cooking area was defective and had to be changed straight away.
5. Is there a socket near the bed? I need to charge my phone while I sleep
→ Is there an outlet close to the sleeping area? I need my mobile to gain battery power during the night.
6. The impact was so hard it nearly knocked his arm out of its socket
→ The force of the blow was so powerful it almost displaced his limb from the joint where it connects.
7. After the tooth was extracted, the dentist packed the tooth socket with gauze to stop the bleeding
→ Once the dental professional removed the tooth, they filled the empty hole in the jaw with absorbent material to control the blood flow.
8. The boxer took such a heavy punch that his eye socket was fractured
→ The fighter received such a powerful blow that the bone surrounding his eyeball was cracked.
9. Pass me the socket wrench — this bolt is too tight to turn by hand
→ Hand me that specialised tightening tool — this fastener is too stiff to twist using just my fingers.
10. The light socket is damaged, so even a brand-new bulb won’t work in it
→ The fitting where the lamp connects is broken, so even a completely unused replacement globe won’t function in it.
Learner Examples
1. Every classroom needs enough power sockets for students to charge their devices — without them, technology-based lessons simply fall apart
→ Every teaching room requires a sufficient number of electrical outlets for learners to keep their equipment powered — without them, sessions built around digital tools simply don’t work.
2. Teaching children never to push objects into a wall socket is one of the first safety lessons every school covers
→ Instructing young people never to insert things into an electrical outlet is one of the earliest precautionary topics every educational setting addresses.
✔ Native usage tips
– “Socket” vs “outlet” vs “plug” — major regional difference — British speakers say “socket” or “power socket” for the point on the wall. Americans say “outlet” or “power outlet.” Both are widely understood, but using the wrong one instantly marks your English as one variety or the other. Crucially, the plug is the thing on the end of the cable, not the thing on the wall — mixing these up is a very common learner error
– “Out of its socket” is almost always about dislocation — the most common figurative use involves body parts, especially eyes and shoulders. “His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets” is a vivid exaggeration meaning someone was extremely shocked or surprised. It’s dramatic, humorous, and very widely used
– “Socket” in computing is a different concept — programmers use “socket” to mean a software endpoint for network communication (a web socket, TCP socket). This technical meaning is extremely common in the IT world but rarely appears in everyday conversation
– British sockets look different from other countries — UK three-pin plugs and sockets are famously large and distinctive. This is a common topic of conversation among international visitors to Britain and a useful cultural reference point when discussing travel or living abroad
– “Eye socket” appears frequently in medical and crime contexts — in news reports, medical descriptions, and crime fiction, “fractured eye socket” is a very common phrase describing a facial injury. It’s one of those terms that people know even without medical knowledge
– The hunt for a free socket is a modern experience — in cafés, airports, and trains, asking “is there a socket anywhere?” or “is there a socket near this seat?” has become one of the most common everyday uses of this word, driven by the need to charge phones and laptops
✔ Similar expressions / words
– Outlet → the standard American English term for what the British call a socket; functionally identical meaning for electrical contexts; also has a broader figurative use that socket lacks: “a creative outlet” or “an outlet for frustration” meaning a way to release something
– Port → used for connection points on electronic devices rather than walls; a USB port, headphone port, or charging port; more technical and specific to devices, while socket is broader and covers wall-mounted power points, light fittings, and anatomical hollows
– Jack → a specific type of socket designed for a particular plug, especially in audio equipment; “a headphone jack” or “an audio jack”; narrower than socket and mainly associated with sound connections; gradually disappearing as devices go wireless