society
[noun]
Synonyms:
- mankind, civilization, humanity, people, the community, the public
- organization, association, circle, club, fellowship, group, guild, institute, league, order, union
- upper classes, beau monde, elite, gentry, high society
- companionship, company, fellowship, friendship

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Related Idioms: people in general, society at large, the general public, high society (or life)
Related Words: masses, populace

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

so‧ci‧e‧ty S1 W1 /səˈsaɪəti, səˈsaɪɪti/ noun (plural societies)
[Word Family: noun: society, sociologist, sociology, sociability, social, socialism, socialist, socialite, socialization, sociopath; adjective: sociable ≠ unsociable, social ≠ ANTI-SOCIAL, unsocial, socialist, socialistic, societal, sociological, sociopathic; adverb: socially, sociably, sociologically; verb: socialize]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: société, from Latin societas, from socius; ⇒ social¹]

1. PEOPLE IN GENERAL [uncountable] people in general, considered in relation to the laws, organizations etc that make it possible for them to live together:
technology and its effects on modern society
Children are the most vulnerable members of society.

2. A PARTICULAR GROUP [uncountable and countable] a particular large group of people who share laws, organizations, customs etc:
Britain is now a multiracial society.
the capitalist societies of the West
the conservative segment of American society

3. CLUB [countable] an organization or club with members who share similar interests, aims etc:
the university film society
the American Cancer Society
society of
the Society of Black Lawyers

4. UPPER CLASS [uncountable] the fashionable group of people who are rich and powerful:
a society wedding
high society (=the richest, most fashionable etc people)

5. BEING WITH PEOPLE [uncountable] formal when you are together with other people
society of
Holidays are a time to enjoy the society of your family.

6. polite society middle- or upper-class people who behave correctly in social situations
in polite society (=among middle- or upper-class people)
The subject was rarely mentioned in polite society.
⇒ building society, friendly society

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

society
noun
I. people who have shared customs and laws
ADJ. wider the position of women within the family and the wider society
contemporary, modern | traditional | advanced the division of labour in an advanced capitalist society
primitive | egalitarian, free, just, open | closed | civilized, humane | affluent the consumerist values of the affluent society
consumer, consumerist | throwaway Our throwaway society must be encouraged to recycle.
permissive | multicultural, multiracial, pluralistic | divided, stratified Years of high unemployment have left society deeply divided.
civil the relationship between the state and civil society
secular | human a theory on the basis of human society
class | classless | tribal | matriarchal, patriarchal | bourgeois | capitalist, democratic, feudal, socialist, etc. | industrial, post-industrial, pre-industrial | agricultural, technological | Western | rural, urban, village | polite Such language would not be used in polite society.
VERB + SOCIETY build, create, shape the struggle to build a just society
permeate, pervade the greed that pervades modern society
fit into Prisoners often have problems fitting into society on their release.
polarize
SOCIETY + VERB be based on sth a society based on social justice
PREP. in/within (a) ~ the role of television in modern Western society
PHRASES a cross-section of society The clinic deals with a wide cross-section of society
the fabric of society The civil war tore apart the fabric of society.
the higher/top echelons of society Officers were drawn largely from the top echelons of society.
a level/rank/stratum of society Child cruelty exists at all levels of society.
a member of society welfare reforms to protect the most vulnerable members of society
an outcast from/of society She devoted herself to helping the outcasts of society.
the backbone/a bulwark/a pillar of society One of the pillars of society must be that everyone has access to the legal system. He considered himself to be a pillar of society.
your place/rank in society A person's job is one of the factors that determines their place in society.
the rest of society He felt isolated from the rest of society.
a section/sector/segment of society Every section of society must have access to education.
society as a whole The research examines minorities and their relation to society as a whole.
society at large Health standards have risen in society at large.
the structure of a society the class structure of British society

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

society
II. organization formed for a particular purpose
ADJ. secret | debating, dramatic, historical, horticultural, law, medical, musical, religious, etc.
VERB + SOCIETY belong to She belongs to the historical society.
become a member of, join | create, establish, form, found, set up, start
PREP. in a/the ~ She was active in the Society for Women's Suffrage.
~ for a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals
~ of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
 ⇒ Note at ORGANIZATION

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

society

a free society
Censorship has no place in a free society.
a civilized society
A civilized society should treat its elderly members well.
a civil society (=a society based on laws that everyone accepts)
The protection of human rights is essential for a civil society.
a multicultural/multiracial society
We live in a multicultural society.
a democratic society
Education is important in a democratic society.
an advanced/modern society
The Greeks formed the first advanced societies in the West.
This kind of hatred and violence have no place in a modern society like ours.
an industrial society
In complex industrial societies, different groups specialize in particular activities.
a primitive society
In almost all primitive societies, volcanoes have been regarded with fear.
a just society
We are making progress towards a just society.
a classless society (=one in which people are not divided into different social classes)
the Prime Minister’s vision of a classless society
a capitalist society
As consumers in a capitalist society, we can press companies to behave responsibly.
the larger/wider society (=used when comparing a small group of people to society as a whole)
The poor are part of the larger society, and programs must be there to help them.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

society
noun
BAD: I was asked to give a talk about women and their role in the society.
GOOD: I was asked to give a talk about women and their role in society.

Usage Note:
When it means 'the general system which helps people to live together in an organized way', society is uncountable and is used without the : 'People who drink and drive are a danger to society.'
Compare: 'Britain is a multi-racial society.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲