society

[ suh-sahy-i-tee ]

noun

, plural so·ci·e·ties.

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.

adjective

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

   a society photographer.

society

/ 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

Other Words From

• so·cie·ty·less adjective
• inter·so·cie·ty adjective
• nonso·cie·ty noun plural nonsocieties
• subso·cie·ty noun plural subsocieties
• under·so·cie·ty noun plural undersocieties

Word History and Origins

Origin of society¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of society¹

C16: via Old French societé from Latin societās, from socius a comrade

Idioms and Phrases

see under mutual admiration society .

Synonym Study

See circle.

Example Sentences

The government's independent advisory body has looked at all the evidence and is satisfied that fortification is the right course of action for society as a whole.

From BBC

Members were told that Ms Robinson had left nursing in March 2022 and had since gone on to work at an organisation in West Yorkshire providing drug and alcohol recovery support, a role which "involves working with vulnerable members of society".

From BBC

But there was something even more significant: For a generation, conservatives — not just the far right, which Crusius appeared to identify with — had propelled the notion that climate change was a hoax fabricated so the government could impose new restrictions on the economy and society.

From Salon

For many, this argument over population and immigration had become a battle over whether Americans want to live in a diverse society.

From Salon

The Union of Concerned Scientists, the National Wildlife Federation, Earth First and The Wilderness Society, among others, all published articles or ran campaigns against runaway population growth well into the late 1990s.

From Salon

Related Words

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