What does "society" mean?
A long-standing group of people sharing cultural aspects such as language, dress, norms of behavior and artistic forms.
Society
/səˈsaɪ.ə.ti/ noun
noun ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A long-standing group of people sharing cultural aspects such as language, dress, norms of behavior and artistic forms.
- Grammar: society is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: club, aar, academy, acculturation.
- Useful contrasts: anarchy, anonymity, domesticity.
- Usage evidence: Most schools were designed not to transform society, but to reproduce it.
How to use "society"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "society" 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 "society" 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 "society" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "society" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- 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 "society" is acting as 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 "club" 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.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "society", 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 A long-standing group of people sharing cultural aspects such as language, dress, norms of behavior and artistic forms. countable
"This society has been known for centuries for its colorful clothing and tight-knit family structure."
- 2 an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization wordnet
- 3 A group of people who meet from time to time to engage in a common interest; an association or organization. countable
"It was then that they decided to found a society of didgeridoo-playing unicyclists."
- 4 a formal association of people with similar interests wordnet
- 5 The sum total of all voluntary interrelations between individuals. countable
"The gap between Western and Eastern societies seems to be narrowing."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 the fashionable elite wordnet
- 7 The people of one’s country or community taken as a whole. uncountable
"Our global society develops in fits and starts."
- 8 the state of being with someone wordnet
- 9 High society. uncountable
"Smith was first introduced into society at the Duchess of Grand Fenwick's annual rose garden party."
- 10 A number of people joined by mutual consent to deliberate, determine and act toward a common goal. countable
Antonyms
Example
"Most schools were designed not to transform society, but to reproduce it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "society"?
Common synonyms include: club, aar, academy, acculturation, affiliation, alliance.
How do you use "society" in a sentence?
Most schools were designed not to transform society, but to reproduce it.
How do you pronounce "society"?
Pronounced /səˈsaɪ.ə.ti/.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *sokʷéh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ṓy Proto-Indo-European *sokʷh₂ṓy Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Indo-European *sokʷyós Proto-Italic *sokjos Latin sokios Latin socius Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Proto-Italic *-tāts Latin -tās Latin societāslbor. Old French societé Middle French societébor. English society Borrowed from Middle French societé, from Old French societé, from Latin societās, societātem (“fellowship, association, alliance, union, community”), from socius (“associated, allied; partner, companion, ally”), from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-yo- (“companion”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”). First attested in the 1530s.