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society

American  

[suh-sahy-i-tee] / səˈsaɪ ɪ ti /

noun

• societies
  plural

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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Synonym Usage

See circle.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• societies
  plural

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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

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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

See Examples For:

society societies

“They released me into society completely unprepared. I didn’t understand my body properly and ended up in an accident,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

He also said that if there’s evidence that AI systems are conscious today, or conscious enough to deserve welfare, it must be immediately disclosed to the public so society can decide how to move forward.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

"The citizens who went to the polls exercised their democratic right. High voter turnout is a positive thing, both within Arab society and in all communities in Israel."

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

They functionally shift blame onto the individual for failing to thrive in a society that makes thriving almost impossible.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026

But colonial life in Virginia, like much of America’s early society, was modeled on English fashion and customs.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

The findings suggest that jumping genes may have contributed to the expansion of these sensory systems, potentially improving the ability of ants to detect and interpret the chemical messages that make their complex societies possible.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026

As human beings began to organize themselves into sedentary, agrarian societies, they formed mutualistic relationships with the wildcats that prevented vermin from decimating their grain stores.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Evidence from traditional societies around the world shows that birch tar has been used for medicinal purposes as well as other applications.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

“We should care about this because societies where people feel lonely and isolated — those are societal failures that are up to all of us to address.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

Behind them marched all the members of the dancing and drinking societies of Pamplona, Estella, Tafalla, and Sanguesa who could stay over for the funeral.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

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