Social change is distinguished from other kinds of change primarily by its significance and scale. While the term 'social change' is often used broadly to refer to almost any kind of change, sociologists have worked to make it more specific and useful for social theory.

At the most basic level, social change refers to changes that are significant – changes which alter the 'underlying structure of an object or situation over a period of time'. This means social change does not include any and all changes, but only big ones that transform things fundamentally.

The 'bigness' of change is measured by two factors: first, by how much change it brings about, and second, by the scale of the change – how large a section of society it affects. Changes have to be both intensive and extensive – having a big impact spread over a large sector of society – to qualify as social change.

Finally, social change acquires meaning against the backdrop of continuity or lack of change. It must be understood together with social order, which is the tendency within established social systems that resists and regulates change.