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View synonyms for

civilization

[ siv-uh-luh-zey-shuhn ]

noun

  1. an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, industry, and government has been reached.
  2. those people or nations that have reached such a state.
  3. any type of culture, society, etc., of a specific place, time, or group:

    Greek civilization.

  4. the act or process of civilizing, as by bringing out of a savage, uneducated, or unrefined state, or of being civilized:

    Rome's civilization of barbaric tribes was admirable.

  5. cultural refinement; refinement of thought and cultural appreciation:

    The letters of Madame de Sévigné reveal her wit and civilization.

  6. cities or populated areas in general, as opposed to unpopulated or wilderness areas:

    The plane crashed in the jungle, hundreds of miles from civilization.

  7. modern comforts and conveniences, as made possible by science and technology:

    After a week in the woods, without television or even running water, the campers looked forward to civilization again.



civilization

/ ˌɪɪɪˈɪʃə /

noun

  1. a human society that has highly developed material and spiritual resources and a complex cultural, political, and legal organization; an advanced state in social development
  2. the peoples or nations collectively who have achieved such a state
  3. the total culture and way of life of a particular people, nation, region, or period

    classical civilization

  4. the process of bringing or achieving civilization
  5. intellectual, cultural, and moral refinement
  6. cities or populated areas, as contrasted with sparsely inhabited areas, deserts, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • i··tDz· adjective
  • ·i··tDz noun
  • p·i··tDz noun
  • t·i··tDz noun
  • v·i··tDz noun
  • Dzc···tDz adjective
  • c···tDz noun
  • ܲc···tDz noun
  • p·i··tDz noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of civilization1

First recorded in 1765–75; from French civilisation; civilize, -ation
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Turchin argues that the greatest problem repeatedly facing human civilizations is the creation of a perverse wealth pump that takes money from the common people and gives it to the rich.

From

Much was made in the media, for good reason, of billionaire Elon Musk's crusade against empathy, an emotion he describes as "suicidal" and the "fundamental weakness of Western civilization."

From

They believed they were feeding and clothing America, that they were the economic backbone of civilization, and that because of this, they were destined to win.

From

This is the aesthetic version of Musk's declaration that the "fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy."

From

This syndrome, I hardly need to add, is far more general, and is in danger of reducing what remains of our civilization to self-parody and self-destruction.

From

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civilitycivilize