Company; firm; office; association — often used as an abbreviation or as the suffix in company names.
彼はA社で営業を担当している。
He is in charge of sales at Company A.
展示会には三社が参加した。
Three companies participated in the exhibition.
その社は製品の品質に定評がある。
That company has a good reputation for product quality.
(Shinto) shrine — an older or abbreviated word for a place where a deity is enshrined.
村の社で毎年秋に祭りが行われる。
A festival is held every autumn at the village shrine.
古い文献にはその場所を『社』と記している。
Old documents refer to that place as a 'sha' (shrine).
A regional/local earth deity or the shrine built in its honor; a term in local folk belief.
この土地には古くから社が祀られている。
A local deity has been enshrined on this land since ancient times.
A counter for companies, shrines, etc. (used like '—sha').
展示会には五社が出展した。
Five companies exhibited at the trade fair.
An abbreviation used before/after organization names indicating an incorporated body or corporation (e.g., used in company names).
朝日新聞社は国内外に支社を持つ大手の新聞社だ。
The Asahi Shimbun company is a major newspaper with branches at home and abroad.