societal

[suh-sahy-i-tl]

adjective

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

societal

/ səˈsaɪətəl /

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of societal¹

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

Example Sentences

The motivations for septuagenarian entrepreneurs include desiring autonomy, pursuing meaningful projects and addressing societal needs.

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Executives said they wanted to help speed societal change, were protecting employees and were worried by potential business declines.

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Laqua regrets getting his Columbia University degree, he said, because he wasn’t solving societal problems in class.

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He said the current law "did not reflect evolving societal norms around parenting".

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"We have always been clear that it will take a societal effort to make a real change," she added.

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