society

American  

[suh-sahy-i-tee] / səˈsaɪ ɪ ti /

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.

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adjective

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

   a society photographer.

society British  

/ 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

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society Idioms  

1. see under mutual admiration society.

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Related Words

See circle.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of society

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

Explanation

The noun society refers to people living in social order. Unless you are a reclusive person, you are a part of society in some way or another. Society can also refer to fashionable elite, the "beau monde" or "smart set." An organization or club formed around a common interest is sometimes also called a society. To add to its mystique, this type of society might create special rules, greetings, or handshakes. Certain national societies that may have branches in your community include the Elks Lodge or the National Association of Professional Women.

Example Sentences

Once a pillar of Tennessee society, she became the center of a bizarre, 14-year legal battle and judicial scandal that captivated Knoxville.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

"That was about respecting your place in society, but in the revolutionary 1640s and 1650s, hat-honor became a real gesture of defiance in the political sphere."

From Science Daily • May 7, 2026

White working-class and precarious middle-class voters were alarmed not only at the upending of the racial caste system but also at what they saw as an unraveling of society in general.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

Political scientist Dwaipayan Bhattacharyya once described Bengal under the Communists as a "party society", where the party became embedded in everyday rural life and livelihoods.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

The old ways are gone, but the new ways—the rules that this society will obey—have yet to arrive.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Related Words

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