civilization

[ siv-uh-luh-zey-shuhn ]

noun

1. an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, industry, and government has been reached.
2. those people or nations that have reached such a state.
3. any type of culture, society, etc., of a specific place, time, or group:

   Greek civilization.

4. the act or process of civilizing, as by bringing out of a savage, uneducated, or unrefined state, or of being civilized:

   Rome's civilization of barbaric tribes was admirable.

5. cultural refinement; refinement of thought and cultural appreciation:

   The letters of Madame de Sévigné reveal her wit and civilization.

6. cities or populated areas in general, as opposed to unpopulated or wilderness areas:

   The plane crashed in the jungle, hundreds of miles from civilization.

7. modern comforts and conveniences, as made possible by science and technology:

   After a week in the woods, without television or even running water, the campers looked forward to civilization again.

civilization

/ ˌsɪvɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

1. a human society that has highly developed material and spiritual resources and a complex cultural, political, and legal organization; an advanced state in social development
2. the peoples or nations collectively who have achieved such a state
3. the total culture and way of life of a particular people, nation, region, or period

   classical civilization

4. the process of bringing or achieving civilization
5. intellectual, cultural, and moral refinement
6. cities or populated areas, as contrasted with sparsely inhabited areas, deserts, etc

Other Words From

• civi·li·zation·al adjective
• de·civi·li·zation noun
• hyper·civi·li·zation noun
• inter·civi·li·zation noun
• over·civi·li·zation noun
• postciv·i·li·zation adjective
• preciv·i·li·zation noun
• subciv·i·li·zation noun
• super·civi·li·zation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of civilization¹

First recorded in 1765–75; from French civilisation; civilize, -ation

Example Sentences

Worldwide, the number of displaced people has been climbing alongside what appears to be the rising severity of disasters, and research suggests that by later this century as much as one-third of civilization — billions of people — could be facing the kind of heat and drought that had prohibited most human settlement for thousands of years.

From Salon

“I will continue to stand up for our rights, including the reproductive rights of women, and to fight for a stronger and better future for young people, including creating more affordable housing, reducing gun violence, and doing all we can to rescue our civilization from the climate crisis. The fight has just begun.”

From Los Angeles Times

He sets the stage for the musical in the song “The Advantage of Floating in the Middle of the Sea,” which surveys the customs that have defined a civilization that has made the most of its insularity.

From Los Angeles Times

For all our scientific and technological capacity, we simply have no way to comprehend how the climate crisis will damage human civilization over the long term.

From Salon

For him, "Southern society revived the genius of medieval civilization" and even surpassed it by imposing a racial hierarchy confirmed by ideas grounded in "science."

From Salon

Related Words

• advancement
• development
• education
• progress