Socialism—defined as a centrally planned economy in which the government controls all means of production—was the tragic failure of the twentieth century. Born of a commitment to remedy the economic and moral defects of capitalism, it has far surpassed capitalism in both economic malfunction and moral cruelty. Robert Heilbroner
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Socialism was the bedrock of Marxism and meant that workers and their community should control the market for what they make.

Because the Soviet state eventually strayed far from Marx's idea of socialism towards Lenin's totalitarian communism, socialism is now often used to mean everything from "fascism" to "progressivism." But in its purest form, socialism was a political, social, and economic system meant to empower the working class. In the U.S. today, though, it's often used as shorthand for "the services that government provides and which are paid for by taxes." Depending on who's talking, that idea is either a goal or a target.
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an economic theory or system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned by the community collectively, usually through the state. It is characterized by production for use rather than profit, by equality of individual wealth, by the absence of competitive economic activity, and, usually, by government determination of investment, prices, and production levels
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Socialism is a populist economic and political system in which the means of production operate under public political ownership, sometimes called common ownership. Common ownership under socialism may take shape through technocratic, oligarchic, totalitarian, democratic or even voluntary rule. All legal production and distribution decisions are made by the ruling class.
BREAKING DOWN 'Socialism'

Prominent historical examples of socialist countries include the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Today's examples include Cuba, Venezuela and China. Due to its practical challenges and poor track record, socialism is sometimes referred to as a utopian or "post-scarcity" system, although modern adherents believe it could work if only properly implemented.

An old slogan for socialism is "from each according to ability, to each according to need." Socialist ideals include production for use, rather than for profit; an equitable distribution of wealth and material resources among all people; no more competitive buying and selling in the market; and free access to goods and services.
Origins and Development

Socialism developed as an objection to liberal individualism and capitalism. Under early capitalist economies during the 17th and 18th centuries, western European countries experienced compound economic growth and industrial production for the first time. Some individuals and families escaped poverty faster than others, creating income inequality and other social concerns.

The most famous early socialist thinkers were Robert Owen, Henri de Saint-Simon, Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. It was primarily Lenin who expounded on the ideas of earlier socialists and helped bring socialist planning to the national level after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia during 1917.

Following the spectacular failure of socialist central planning in Soviet Russia and Maoist China during the 20th century, many modern socialists adjusted to a highly regulatory and redistributive system, sometimes referred to as market socialism or democratic socialism.

In socialism, all capital is owned by a supreme government, and production decisions are made politically. Legal property rights only extend to consumer goods. Socialist economic thinkers consider many private economic activities to be irrational, such as arbitrage or lending money, because they do not create immediate consumption or "use."

In terms of the definitions above it is hard to see any country as being truly socialist. Russia tried it and it mutated and failed.
Labour in Britain has embraced aspects of it and subsequently wrecked the economy. China is communist, Cuba is socialist aspiring to communism. Scandinavian countries embrace elements of socialism, as does Ireland, insofar as benefits are generous.

It could be argued true socialism has never been tried.

and stevie wonder I can use a dictionary to obtain a definition, don't believe I need anyone else to help

Perhaps both you and Jim could ask the den mother to explain it all to you.