societal

adjective

so·​ci·​e·​tal sə-ˈsī-ə-tᵊl 

: of or relating to society : social

societal forces

societally

sə-ˈsī-ə-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of societal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The look back shows the familiar societal cycle around powerful technology, spanning excitement, anxiety, and dread. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Wong embodied a model of how to reinvent oneself in the face of the most daunting societal obstacles. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026

Some analysts voiced skepticism about the risk of a societal-scale attack carried out by AI, however, noting that such warnings typically come in the form of vague hypotheticals. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Gates voiced concern about AI’s societal and economic effects last month. — Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing societal

• inter-societal

Rhymes for societal

• parietal