societal

American  

[suh-sahy-i-tl] / səˈsaɪ ɪ tl /

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to large social groups, or to their activities, customs, etc.

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societal British  

/ səˈsaɪətəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to society, esp human society or social relations

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Other Word Forms

• antisocietal
  adjective
• antisocietally
  adverb
• intersocietal
  adjective
• nonsocietal
  adjective
• societally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of societal

First recorded in 1895–1900; societ(y) + -al ¹

Explanation

Use the adjective societal to describe something that is related to society, like the societal changes that came about as a result of the civil rights movement. People living together in a community make up a society, and anything connected to that group can be described as societal. Societal pressures are expectations that affect the entire community, or specific parts of it, like the pressure to get married and have children. Society, which is at the root of societal, has been used since the 1500s to mean "friendly association with others." The meaning shifted in the next one hundred years to refer specifically to an orderly community of people.

Example Sentences

Societal pressures may be one reason for the change.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

Societal problems are very much on Tynion's mind in his latest book, "Exquisite Corpses", which has sold 500,000 copies since its release in the United States last year.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

Societal gains from technological change come from what the economist Joseph Schumpeter called “the wave of creative destruction.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Societal factors, the researchers claim, especially those tied to religion, politics and war, also leave lasting marks on the evolutionary paths of the animals and plants that share our cities.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2025

Justyce is still in a daze when he gets to Societal Evolution two periods later.

From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone