Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
degree-of-separation
noun
/dɪˈɡriː əv sɪˌpəˈreɪʃən/
Definition
A measure of the distance between individuals in a social network, typically quantified by the number of steps or connections needed to connect one person to another.
Examples
- In a world connected by social media, the degree-of-separation may be quite low.
- The study concluded that the average degree-of-separation among participants was around three.
Meaning
The concept illustrates how closely people are connected through acquaintances, often expressed in the popular phrase “six degrees of separation,” which suggests that any two people are six or fewer social connections apart.
Synonyms
- connection distance
- social distance
- network closeness
