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

But the eleventh-hour blitz of No On 3 ads that Keep Florida Clean funded, warning of the greed of Big Weed, inflamed voters’ private worries of societal decay. — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

These bog bodies tell stories of a time when humans were sacrificed to the gods in bogs, as otherworldly margins between the human and divine realms, or when social outcasts met a cruel, violent end for failing to conform to societal standards. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

His household becomes a microcosm of a broader societal moral decay, fuelled by detachment, indifference, corruption, complacency and the pursuit of comfort. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Many factors contribute to this, including better screening and awareness of kids’ mental health problems, as well as societal disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. — Ari Lightman, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing societal

• inter-societal

Rhymes for societal

• parietal