civilization

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noun civ·i·li·za·tion \ ˌsi-və-lə-ˈzā-shən \

Definition of civilization

1 a :a relatively high level of cultural and technological development; specifically :the stage of cultural development at which writing and the keeping of written records is attained

b :the culture characteristic of a particular time or place

the impact of European civilization on the lands they colonized

2 :the process of becoming civilized

civilization is a slow process with many failures and setbacks

3 a :refinement of thought, manners, or taste

exhibiting a high level of civilization

b :a situation of urban comfort

Our African safari was quite interesting, but it was great to get back to civilization.

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civilizational

play \-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See civilization defined for English-language learners

See civilization defined for kids

Examples of civilization in a Sentence

the impact of technical advancements on civilization
We are studying ancient Greek civilization.
a book about life on the planet after wars have destroyed civilization

Recent Examples of civilization from the Web

Knight’s theory formalized beliefs that hunters and ancient civilizations had held for centuries, while also establishing the Solunar Calendar.

— by jordan rodriguez, idahostatesman, "The moon matters to fish. Here’s why it matters to those of us who want to catch them," 17 Aug. 2017
Cory’s former father-in-law is patiently awaiting a breakdown in the white man’s civilization.

— robert w. butler, kansascity, "Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen and wow scenery: ‘Wind River’ goes west in style," 16 Aug. 2017
But if my purpose in enjoying the outdoors is to get away from the noise of civilization and breathe the mountain air in the company of a good dog, a comfortable pair of blue jeans work fine.

— author: christine cunningham, Alaska Dispatch News, "Gearing up for another bird-hunting season in Alaska," 16 Aug. 2017
Philosophy, ancient civilizations, and religion probably all pique your interest, so don’t be afraid to follow your passion!

— jenna birch, Teen Vogue, "The College Major You Should Choose, According to Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type," 11 Aug. 2017
Scientists, such as Stanford University's Chris Field, say that even a few tenths of a degree of warming can have dramatic impacts on human civilization and the natural environment.

— Bloomberg.com, "Draft U.S. Report Says Extreme Storms Driven by Climate Change," 8 Aug. 2017
There are important lessons in the unlikely story of how the world came to mitigate the effects of a ticking time bomb under modern civilization.

— farhad manjoo, New York Times, "How Y2K Offers a Lesson for Fighting Climate Change," 19 July 2017
There are other artists in the show, however, who prefer river views that only have the occasional bridge or person to remind you that civilization is nearby.

— mike giuliano, Howard County Times, "Ellicott City is ready for its portrait," 18 July 2017
The book is co-authored by Frank Drake, the renowned astrophysicist who came up with an equation to estimate the number of potential alien civilizations in the Milky Way.

— marina koren, The Atlantic, "How the Internet Deciphered a Fake Alien Message," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'civilization.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of civilization

see civil

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1760

See Words from the same year

civilization Synonyms

Synonyms

culture, life, lifestyle, society

Antonyms

barbarianism, barbarism, philistinism

Related Words

customs, manners, mores, values; folklore, heritage, legacy, tradition; subculture, subsociety

Near Antonyms

ignorance, illiteracy; parochialism, provincialism, rusticity, unsophistication; boorishness, churlishness, clownishness, coarseness, crudeness, vulgarity

Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

CIVILIZATION Defined for English Language Learners

civilization

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noun

Definition of civilization for English Language Learners

: the condition that exists when people have developed effective ways of organizing a society and care about art, science, etc.
: a particular well-organized and developed society
: all the societies of the world