civilized
Americanadjective
-
having an advanced or humane culture, society, etc.
-
polite; well-bred; refined.
-
of or relating to civilized people.
The civilized world must fight ignorance.
-
easy to manage or control; well organized or ordered.
The car is quiet and civilized, even in sharp turns.
adjective
-
having a high state of culture and social development
-
cultured; polite
a civilized discussion
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of civilized
Explanation
Someone who is cultured and polite — who knows to put his dinner napkin on his lap — is civilized. So could you please behave in a civilized manner and get your feet off the dinner table? Civilized is an adjective that describes the very opposite of barbarity. A civilized person is polite and courteous; he knows how to say "please" and "thank you." A civilized group of people is characterized by being socially and technologically advanced. Both dinner parties and fancy computer gadgets are signs of a civilized people. That friend of yours who likes to show people how he can belch the entire alphabet? Maybe not.
Vocabulary lists containing civilized
Excerpt from "Flipped"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Copper Sun
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Absolutely Normal Chaos
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This is a civilized world we live in now.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Those are traits that help define a psychopath, someone who lives among us but doesn’t have the empathy and ethics necessary to behave in a civilized, or even safe, fashion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
It made him aware of “the fragility of civilized life” and inspired “gratitude for the decency and work ethic of the police.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
Its credo was “a rejection of powerlessness and the creation of conditions for civilized behavior. We are not overmatched by the problems we face.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
Back when things were still civilized, the rich folks from town used to come up and stay their weekends in grand hotels, and ride on the gravity railroad.
From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
