variants
also British civilisation
ˌsɪvələˈzeɪʃən 
British ˌsɪvɪˌlaɪˈzeɪʃən
plural civilizations
1
: the condition that exists when people have developed effective ways of organizing a society and care about art, science, etc.
modern civilization
the impact of technical advancements on civilization
2
: a particular well-organized and developed society
ancient/modern civilizations
We are studying ancient Greek/Egyptian civilization.
3
: all the societies of the world
a book about life on the planet after wars have destroyed civilization
4
informal
: a place that has the things that modern cities and towns have : a place where there is electricity, hot water, etc.
He was sick of camping with his family and wanted to get back to civilization and his video games.
Cite this Entry
“Civilization.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/civilization. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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