What does "civilization" mean?
An organized culture encompassing many communities, often on the scale of a nation or a people; a stage or system of social, political, or technical development.
Civilization
/ˌsɪv.ɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An organized culture encompassing many communities, often on the scale of a nation or a people; a stage or system of social, political, or technical development.
- Grammar: civilization is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: culture, acculturation, ancient society, civil order.
- Useful contrasts: natural wilderness, uncivilized, wild beast.
- Usage evidence: Briefly stated, Hobsbawm's thesis is that the history of the twentieth century is that of the decline of civilization.
How to use "civilization"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "civilization" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "civilization" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "civilization" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "civilization" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "civilization" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "culture" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "civilization", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An organized culture encompassing many communities, often on the scale of a nation or a people; a stage or system of social, political, or technical development. countable, uncountable
"the Aztec civilization"
- 2 the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste wordnet
- 3 Human society, particularly civil society. uncountable
"A hermit doesn't much care for civilization."
- 4 a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations) wordnet
- 5 The act or process of civilizing or becoming civilized. countable, uncountable
"The teacher's civilization of the child was no easy task."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 a particular society at a particular time and place wordnet
- 7 The state or quality of being civilized. countable, uncountable
"He was a man of great civilization."
- 8 the social process whereby societies achieve an advanced stage of development and organization wordnet
- 9 The act of rendering a criminal process civil. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 Collectively, those people and places of the world considered to have a high standard of behavior and / or a high level of development. Commonly subjectively used by people of one society to exclusively refer to their society, or their elite sub-group, or a few associated societies, implying all others, in time or geography or status, as something less than civilised, as savages or barbarians. (Compare refinement, elitism, civilised society, the Civilised World. capitalized, sometimes
"Near-synonym: ecumene (archaic)"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Briefly stated, Hobsbawm's thesis is that the history of the twentieth century is that of the decline of civilization."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "civilization"?
Common synonyms include: culture, acculturation, ancient society, civil order, civil progress, civilisation.
How do you use "civilization" in a sentence?
Briefly stated, Hobsbawm's thesis is that the history of the twentieth century is that of the decline of civilization.
How do you pronounce "civilization"?
Pronounced /ˌsɪv.ɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French civilisation, equivalent to civilize + -ation or civil + -ization.