society

American  

[suh-sahy-i-tee] / səˈsaɪ ɪ ti /

noun

societies plural

1. an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes.

   Synonyms:

   company, brotherhood, fraternity, fellowship, association

2. a body of individuals living as members of a community; community.

3. the body of human beings generally, associated or viewed as members of a community.

   the evolution of human society.

4. a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members.

   American society.

5. such a system characterized by its dominant economic class or form.

   middle-class society;

   industrial society.

6. those with whom one has companionship.

7. companionship; company.

   to enjoy the society of good friends.

   Synonyms:

   fellowship

8. the social life of wealthy, prominent, or fashionable persons.

9. the social class that comprises such persons.

10. the condition of those living in companionship with others, or in a community, rather than in isolation.

11. Biology. a closely integrated group of social organisms of the same species exhibiting division of labor.

12. Ecclesiastical. ecclesiastical society.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of elegant society.

   a society photographer.

society British  

/ səˈsaɪətɪ /

noun

1. the totality of social relationships among organized groups of human beings or animals

2. a system of human organizations generating distinctive cultural patterns and institutions and usually providing protection, security, continuity, and a national identity for its members

3. such a system with reference to its mode of social and economic organization or its dominant class

   middle-class society

4. those with whom one has companionship

5. an organized group of people associated for some specific purpose or on account of some common interest

   a learned society

6. 1. the privileged class of people in a community, esp as considered superior or fashionable

   2. ( as modifier )

      a society woman

7. the social life and intercourse of such people

   to enter society as a debutante

8. companionship; the fact or state of being together with someone else

   I enjoy her society

9. ecology a small community of plants within a larger association

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society Idioms  

1. see under mutual admiration society.

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Synonym Usage

See circle.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsociety
  noun
• societyless
  adjective
• undersociety
  noun
• subsociety
  noun
• intersociety
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• societies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of society

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French societe, from Latin societās, equivalent to soci(us) “partner, comrade” + -etās, variant of -itās -ity ( def. ) after a vowel

Explanation

The noun society refers to people living in social order. Unless you are a reclusive person, you are a part of society in some way or another. Society can also refer to fashionable elite, the "beau monde" or "smart set." An organization or club formed around a common interest is sometimes also called a society. To add to its mystique, this type of society might create special rules, greetings, or handshakes. Certain national societies that may have branches in your community include the Elks Lodge or the National Association of Professional Women.

Example Sentences

A boom in artificial intelligence is deepening a crisis in trust across society, according to the co-founder of online encyclopedia Wikipedia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Platner said the online comments and his relations with Fifield came during a “very dark period” when he was struggling with his re-entry into civil society.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

There are those who think it’s about man in a state of nature, what we are capable of when society is made primal around us.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

"Liberation," which explores sexuality and the place of women in society in the 1970s, was named Best Play after winning a Pulitzer Prize in May.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

They would become debutantes, where they would come out to society their senior year in high school as eligible to date and eventually marry.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

Related Words

• association
• civilization
• community
• company
• culture
• humanity
• nation
• population
• public
• world