civilization
noun
civ·i·li·za·tion
ˌsi-və-lə-ˈzā-shən 
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 camping trip was quite interesting, but it was great to get back to civilization.
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 on the Web
In the first part of the film, Grossman rewinds the tapes of the 1996 trip, organized by a Brazilian civil servant and Swedish journalist Erling Söderström to meet the Korubo tribe, who chose to live far away from civilization.
—
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
Rick Owens's collection could be worn by an alien race whose home planet was destroyed and is now reestablishing its civilization in an unknown and unwelcoming new world.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The other emerged from Jewish disciples of Jesus, eventually becoming Christianity, carrying the ethical inheritance of the Hebrew Scriptures across civilizations.
—Calev Myers, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
In China’s civilization-building cause, the former was an ideological adversary; the latter could become an ally.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civilization
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Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
Rick Owens's collection could be worn by an alien race whose home planet was destroyed and is now reestablishing its civilization in an unknown and unwelcoming new world.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The other emerged from Jewish disciples of Jesus, eventually becoming Christianity, carrying the ethical inheritance of the Hebrew Scriptures across civilizations.
—Calev Myers, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
In China’s civilization-building cause, the former was an ideological adversary; the latter could become an ally.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civilization
Cite this Entry
“Civilization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilization. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
civilization
noun
civ·i·li·za·tion
ˌsiv-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən
1
a
: a high level (as in art, science, and government) of social development
b
: the way of life of a people
ancient Egyptian civilization
2
: the series of changes involved in becoming civilized
3
: refinement of thought, manners, or taste
4
: a situation of urban comfort
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