civilized

[ siv-uh-lahyzd ]

adjective

1. having an advanced or humane culture, society, etc.
2. polite; well-bred; refined.
3. of or relating to civilized people:

   The civilized world must fight ignorance.

4. easy to manage or control; well organized or ordered:

   The car is quiet and civilized, even in sharp turns.

civilized

/ ˈsɪvɪˌlaɪzd /

adjective

1. having a high state of culture and social development
2. cultured; polite

   a civilized discussion

Other Words From

• civ·i·liz·ed·ness [siv, -, uh, -lahy-zid-nis, -lahyzd], noun
• half-civil·ized adjective
• hyper·civi·lized adjective
• non·civi·lized adjective
• sub·civi·lized adjective
• super·civi·lized adjective
• ultra·civi·lized adjective
• well-civi·lized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of civilized¹

First recorded in 1605–15; civilize + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Times announcement of the marriage of two Yuma Indian School grads noted that “both are full-blooded Indians … and both very much civilized.”

From Los Angeles Times

“In a civilized society, what does violence get you?”

From Los Angeles Times

Only the Jedi are deemed civilized, and therefore their orthodoxy of the Force should be imposed on others for their own good.

From Salon

Shocking because violence is no way for a civilized people to mediate their political differences.

From Los Angeles Times

For Roman-era writers such as Tacitus, the region was beyond the edge of the civilized world, known only through unreliable second-hand reports.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• civil
• cultured
• educated
• enlightened
• humane
• refined
• sophisticated