Social change refers to the transformations and shifts that occur within a society over a period of time. There are numerous synonyms that can be used for social change to emphasize different aspects of the phenomenon. Some of the synonyms for social change include societal progress, cultural evolution, transformation, cultural shift, progress, innovation, improvement, and reformation. All of these words point to a change in social norms and behavior, but each conveys a distinct idea of what is taking place within a society. The use of synonyms broadens the ways in which social changes can be articulated and understood.