societal

adjective

so·​ci·​e·​tal sə-ˈsī-ə-tᵊl How to pronounce societal (audio)
: of or relating to society : social
societal forces
societally adverb

Examples of societal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The causes for societal trends are typically difficult to pinpoint given the myriad factors at play. Editorial, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026 Undereating Many people feel societal pressure to undereat or only eat certain types of foods. Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2026 The downstream cultural and societal impacts of such pronouncements from the White House have been stark. Clint Smith, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026 Try to let go of societal pressure. Alex Vance, Parents, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for societal

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of societal was in 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Societal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/societal. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

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