(in the theories of Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, and others) an agreement, entered into by individuals, that results in the formation of the state or of organized society, the prime motive being the desire for protection, which entails the surrender of some or all personal liberties
social contract in American English
or social compact
in the theories of certain political philosophers, as Locke and Rousseau, the agreement among individuals uniting for various reasons, by which organized society was begun and sets of regulations were instituted to govern interrelations of members
social contract in British English