social obligation
nounUK /ˈsəʊ.ʃəl ˌɒb.lɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
US /ˈsoʊ.ʃəl ˌɑː.blɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
A social obligation is something you should do because it is polite or fair to other people.
Going to your friend's birthday party is a social obligation.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A duty you have because of your job or role in a group.
The teacher felt a social obligation to help the new student.
3. Something you promised to do for friends or family.
He kept his social obligation and visited his grandmother.
4. A rule in a group about how people should act toward each other.
Saying thank you is a simple social obligation.