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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The question of whether AIs deserve legal rights and protections will be a mainstream societal and political debate. Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026 Some of the conflicting data, Collinson said, may reflect disparate societal attitudes about retirement. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 June 2026 Access to trusted research is central to scientific and societal progress. Torie Bosch, STAT, 20 June 2026 While Amal lives in the Zaatari refugee camp, Bara’a has moved to Amman to start a new life away from family and societal constraints. Ed Meza, Variety, 19 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Societal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/societal. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on societal

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster