societal preoccupation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "societal preoccupation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a concern or focus that is prevalent within society at a given time. Example: "The societal preoccupation with mental health has led to increased awareness and resources for those in need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Despite societal preoccupation with doing what you love, the IRS looks for elements of personal pleasure or recreation as one indication your "business" is really a hobby.

Forbes

The societal preoccupation with identity grows in part out of changing demographics as the nation moves from a white majority to one dominated by persons of color.

Los Angeles Times

Our kids are prone to the perils of a societal preoccupation with weight, rather than a focus on health and the lifestyle factors that support it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Walsh's libretto (he also directs) is devastating in its indictment of societal preoccupations, heartbreaking in its portrayal of loneliness and loveless relationships.

The Guardian - Music

Respondents were aware of wider societal anxieties and preoccupation with risk.

Archives of Disease in Childhood

Both the quality of services and access thereto, which are important outcomes of the organisational aspects (ie, relative to work organisation: schedule, waiting lists, etc) of the institutional dimension of both societal and practice contexts, are major global preoccupations.

BMJ Open

But the beauty of Prince's pushing of societal boundaries was that he exposed our own preoccupations with placing people, especially black people, in boxes.

Huffington Post

College officials attribute their growing preoccupation with athletic success to a number of societal and other influences, including expansion of postseason play in Division III, higher skill levels among high school athletes, tendencies toward a winner-take-all attitude in society and published rankings of colleges that elevate those perceived to be successful in everything they undertake.

The New York Times

Instead, they will be offered a notion that in the modern West, science is something personal — having to do with how we act and feel, how we communicate or fight disease — and that its major preoccupation with environmental issues is the consequence primarily of technological or societal failures.

The New York Times - Arts

Another big, new preoccupation?

The New York Times

But Matt Matttt was his preoccupation.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "societal preoccupation", ensure the context clearly defines what aspect of society is preoccupied and why. Providing specific examples or data can strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a perceived preoccupation is universally shared. Qualify your statements with phrases like "in some segments of society" or "among certain demographics" to avoid making sweeping generalizations about the entire population.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "societal preoccupation" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It typically identifies a widespread or dominant concern, interest, or focus within a given society. Ludwig examples illustrate its role in describing various cultural anxieties and fixations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "societal preoccupation" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a dominant concern or interest within a society. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While relatively rare in occurrence, it finds its primary contexts in news and media, and science. Its function is to categorize trends and concerns influencing public behavior. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and avoid overgeneralization. Alternatives like "social obsession" or "public fixation" can offer nuanced substitutions. As an additional insight, Ludwig's examples suggest that the phrase is valuable for analysing cultural anxieties and influences within specific populations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Social obsession

Emphasizes the compulsive nature of societal interest.

Public fixation

Highlights the unwavering focus of the public on a particular issue.

Societal concern

Focuses on issues that cause anxiety or worry within society.

Prevailing social interest

Indicates what society is mainly interested in at a particular time.

Current societal focus

Highlights the present-day emphasis of society.

General public concern

Focuses on the worry or anxiety of the general population.

Widespread social anxiety

Highlights the nervous feelings of a society.

National preoccupation

Restricts the scope to a single nation.

Collective preoccupation

Emphasizes the shared nature of the interest or concern.

Dominant societal narrative

Focuses on the story or account that is most influential in society.

FAQs

How can I use "societal preoccupation" in a sentence?

You can use "societal preoccupation" to describe a dominant concern or interest within a society, such as "The "societal preoccupation with weight" can lead to unhealthy dieting habits".

What's the difference between "societal preoccupation" and "public concern"?

"Societal preoccupation" implies a more intense and perhaps obsessive focus, whereas "public concern" suggests a general worry or interest.

What can I say instead of "societal preoccupation"?

Alternatives include "social obsession", "public fixation", or "societal concern", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "societal preoccupation" a formal or informal term?

"Societal preoccupation" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although more formal writing might benefit from using synonyms like "prevailing social interest" in certain cases.