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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The September 11th attacks occurred while the movie was filming, and as a result 28 Days has an additional resonance; an all-too-familiar picture of societal fear and unease. James Grebey, Time, 20 June 2025 The plot details for episode one of The Gilded Age season three read: Chronicles the societal shifts in 1880s New York as old money clashes with new, igniting a fierce rivalry that exposes a period of immense upheaval and transformation. Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025 The survey found that 90% of U.S. graduates want to make a positive societal impact through their careers. Brit Morse, Fortune, 19 June 2025 But beyond that, the metaverse ran into two distinct challenges: limited utility and a lack of societal readiness. Kate Drew, Forbes.com, 19 June 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 30 Jun. 2025.

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