Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for civilized on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
Origin of civilized First recorded in
1605–15; civilize +
-ed2 Related forms civ·i·liz·ed·ness [siv -uh -lahy-zid-nis, -lahyzd] /ˈsɪv əˌlaɪ zɪd nɪs, -ˌlaɪzd/ 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 verb (used with object), civ·i·lized, civ·i·liz·ing. to bring out of a savage, uneducated, or rude state; make civil ; elevate in social and private life; enlighten; refine: Rome civilized the barbarians. Show More
Also especially British civ·i·lise .
Origin of civilize 1595–1605; <
French civiliser; see
civil ,
-ize Related forms civ·i·liz·a·ble , adjective civ·i·liz·a·to·ry [siv-uh -lahy -zuh -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˌsɪv əˈlaɪ zəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/ adjective civ·i·liz·er , noun de·civ·i·lize , verb (used with object), de·civ·i·lized, de·civ·i·liz·ing. non·civ·i·liz·a·ble , adjective o·ver·civ·i·lize , verb, o·ver·civ·i·lized, o·ver·civ·i·liz·ing. un·civ·i·liz·a·ble , adjective un·civ·i·lize , verb (used with object), un·civ·i·lized, un·civ·i·liz·ing. Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for civilized Contemporary Examples of civilized The last six months have been a stark reminder of the brutality that lurks at the boundaries of civilized society.
A mark of the civilized person is that he in no way luxuriates in his violence.
In any other civilized nation this effort at some kind of summer escape would barely raise an eyebrow.
An innocent person condemned by law is perhaps the most horrifying thing a civilized society can acknowledge.
When I was lying between the two soldiers I remember saying to myself, ‘This shouldn’t be happening in a civilized society.
Historical Examples of civilized In every civilized nation the lawyers must be the law-givers.
That is the civilized fashion; and is superfluous among savages.
Abandon her not until you leave her in the habitations of civilized men.
The Japanese are a civilizable and civilized race, and must be treated as such.
Then shall I break upon the civilized world as a revelation.
British Dictionary definitions for civilized having a high state of culture and social development cultured; polite a civilized discussion Show More
to bring out of savagery or barbarism into a state characteristic of civilization to refine, educate, or enlighten Show More
Derived Forms civilizable or civilisable , adjective civilizer or civiliser , noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for civilized adj. 1610s, past participle adjective from civilize .
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v. c.1600, "to bring out of barbarism," from French civiliser , verb from Old French civil (adj.), from Latin civilis "relating to a citizen, relating to public life, befitting a citizen; popular, affable, courteous" (see civil ). Meaning "become civilized" is from 1868. Related: Civilized ; civilizing .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
