səˈsajəti
plural societies
1
: people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values
Poverty hurts society as a whole.
2
: the people of a particular country, area, time, etc., thought of especially as an organized community
ancient/modern societies
Christian/consumer societies
We need to do more to help the poorer members of our society.
the values of Western/American society
wealthy/poor members of society
These problems affect only a small segment of society. [=only a small number of people]
That kind of behavior isn't allowed in polite society. [=among people who speak and behave in a polite way]
3
: people who are fashionable and wealthy
She was introduced to society at a formal reception.
The club's members are drawn from the ranks of high society.
—often used before another nounsociety ladies/fashions/parties
4
: a group of people who work together or regularly meet because of common interests, beliefs, or activities
a literary/musical society
historical societies
The American Cancer Society
The Society of Newspaper Editors
5
formal
: the state of being with other people
He avoided the society [=company] of other writers.
Cite this Entry
“Society.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/society. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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