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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Just ask the three tomboys who don’t conform to societal expectations and meet a trans woman called Fantasy in, yes, Fantasy, the feature directorial debut of Slovenian musician and director Kukla. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025 Yet with different leadership, Chevron could also envisage a different future by addressing wider societal concerns. Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025 Battling unforgiving seas, societal expectations, and relentless challenges, she was also celebrated as a symbol of resilience. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025 Unless the culture normalizes a deeper skepticism toward AI as a source of infinite knowledge, this is a societal malady that may just get worse. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2025 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 21 Aug. 2025.

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