society

[ suh-sahy-i-tee ]

/ səˈsaɪ ɪ ti /

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See synonyms for: society / societies on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural so·ci·e·ties.

an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes.

a body of individuals living as members of a community; community.

the body of human beings generally, associated or viewed as members of a community: the evolution of human society.

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.

such a system characterized by its dominant economic class or form: middle-class society; industrial society.

those with whom one has companionship.

companionship; company: to enjoy the society of good friends.

the social life of wealthy, prominent, or fashionable persons.

the social class that comprises such persons.

the condition of those living in companionship with others, or in a community, rather than in isolation.

Biology. a closely integrated group of social organisms of the same species exhibiting division of labor.

Ecclesiastical. ecclesiastical society.

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of elegant society: a society photographer.

OTHER WORDS FOR society

1 association, fellowship, fraternity, brotherhood, company.

7 fellowship.

See synonyms for society on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of society

1525–35; <Middle French societe<Latin societās, equivalent to soci(us) partner, comrade + -etās, variant of -itās--ity

synonym study for society

1. See circle.

OTHER WORDS FROM society

so·ci·e·ty·less, adjectivein·ter·so·ci·e·ty, adjectivenon·so·ci·e·ty, noun, plural non·so·ci·e·ties.sub·so·ci·e·ty, noun, plural sub·so·ci·e·ties.

un·der·so·ci·e·ty, noun, plural un·der·so·ci·e·ties.

Words nearby society

social welfare, social work, societal, societal development, societal marketing, society, Society Islands, Society of Friends, Society of Jesus, society verse, Socinian

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use society in a sentence

Half a century later, it is clear that this narrow, stockholder-centered view of corporations has cost society severely.
50 years later, Milton Friedman’s shareholder doctrine is dead|jakemeth|September 13, 2020|Fortune
Brazil’s Civil Rights Framework was society’s response to similar attempts by the government to censor the internet.
Brazil’s “fake news” bill won’t solve its misinformation problem|Amy Nordrum|September 10, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The goal is to create a society that treats everyone equally, and that gives everyone, including the most vulnerable members of our society, a fighting chance to succeed.
Ritchie Torres, set to be first out Afro-Latino in Congress, seeks big changes amid COVID|Chris Johnson|September 9, 2020|Washington Blade
I think the most important thing is to consider what is good for the overall community, and we all want the overall society to recover as soon as possible.
Hong Kong’s citywide COVID-19 testing has become a barometer of public trust|eamonbarrett|September 9, 2020|Fortune

We have gotten away from our source and this has caused our societies to be imbalanced.
Lafalaise Dion Takes ESSENCE On A Personal Journey|Nandi Howard|September 4, 2020|Essence.com
As an example of good science-and-society policymaking, the history of fluoride may be more of a cautionary tale.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
“The institution of marraige [sic] is under attack in our society and it needs to be strengthened,” Bush wrote.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Those are troubling numbers, for unfettered speech is not incidental to a flourishing society.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech|Nick Gillespie|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Compared with neighbors Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos, Cambodia appears to have a blossoming civil society.
Cambodia’s Smoke-and-Mirrors Democracy|David Shaftel|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Strangio is at his best when exposing what appears to be a flourishing civil society in Cambodia.
Cambodia’s Smoke-and-Mirrors Democracy|David Shaftel|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Those in whom the impulse is strong and dominant are perhaps those who in later years make the good society actors.
Children's Ways|James Sully
I haven't much time for seeing any one, except my patients, and the people I meet in society.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
William has thus been happily able to report to the society the approaching conversion of M'Bongo and his imminent civilization.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
The blind Samson of labor will seize upon the pillars of society and bring them down in a common destruction.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
He has told me that their society produced on him the effect of the cool hands of saints against his cheek.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for society

society

/ (səˈsaɪətɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the totality of social relationships among organized groups of human beings or animals

a system of human organizations generating distinctive cultural patterns and institutions and usually providing protection, security, continuity, and a national identity for its members

such a system with reference to its mode of social and economic organization or its dominant classmiddle-class society

those with whom one has companionship

an organized group of people associated for some specific purpose or on account of some common interesta learned society

the privileged class of people in a community, esp as considered superior or fashionable
(as modifier)a society woman

the social life and intercourse of such peopleto enter society as a debutante

companionship; the fact or state of being together with someone elseI enjoy her society

ecology a small community of plants within a larger association

Word Origin for society

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with society

society

see under mutual admiration society.

society

OTHER WORDS FOR society

Origin of society

synonym study for society

OTHER WORDS FROM society

Words nearby society

Words related to society

How to use society in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for society

Word Origin for society

Other Idioms and Phrases with society