The term "social cost" refers to the negative effects that a particular action or decision can have on society as a whole. Some common synonyms for this term include externalities, public costs, societal costs, and shared costs. Externalities refer to the unintended consequences of an action that impact parties not involved in the decision-making process. Public costs are expenses that are borne by the public, such as taxpayer-funded services or infrastructure projects. Societal costs encompass the broader impacts on society, including environmental and social consequences. Shared costs are those that are spread across multiple stakeholders or parties, such as the cost of pollution or resource depletion. All of these terms are used to describe the wide-reaching impact that certain actions can have on society, beyond just the immediate actors involved.