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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Portugal’s legendary explorer Ferdinand Magellan gets an epic biopic courtesy of Filipino filmmaker and societal historian Lav Diaz. Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026 The show’s genius lies in connecting such individual woes to societal failures. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026 Raised in a rural village four hours from the Algerian capital, Khelif sold scrap copper as a young girl to fund her training, overcoming significant economic and societal hurdles. Kara Fox, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026 The same stages that once amplified voices of dissent now showcase perfection in motion, highlights and heroics divorced from societal context. Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 3 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 12 Feb. 2026.

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