society

[suh-sahy-i-tee]

noun

plural

societies 

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.

adjective

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

   a society photographer.

society

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of society¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of society¹

C16: via Old French societé from Latin societās, from socius a comrade

Idioms and Phrases

see under mutual admiration society.

Synonym Study

See circle.

Example Sentences

It isn’t yet fully understood whether disease risks suggested for embryos during polygenic screening hold true into adulthood, the medical society said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Peck’s film, too, isn’t like the film society’s usual offerings; it’s not a dazzling Hollywood blockbuster.

Read more on Salon

But his victory reflects the dynamics of a rapidly changing city where about a million Muslims have become fully integrated members of society, as neighbors, friends and schoolmates of the non-Muslim majority.

Read more on Salon

At the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, as society mobilised to defend itself, Ukraine had little capacity for culture.

Read more on BBC

The result is a legal goulash in which supposedly fundamental human rights are made to contradict one another—a state of affairs that can only create a disordered, profoundly illiberal society.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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