Society — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /sə-ˈsī-ə-tē/ so·ci·e·ty

Meaning & Definition of Society

Society (noun)

  1. companionship or association with one's fellows, friendly or intimate intercourse, company
  2. a voluntary association of individuals for common ends; especially, an organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests, beliefs, or profession
  3. an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another

Society (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or typical of fashionable society

Society (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest

    "a debate society"

    similar: association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild, institute, institution, league, order, organization, sodality
    related: collective, commune, community, cooperative, alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership, body, cadre, group, circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch, lot, set, crew, outfit, party, squad, team, branch, chapter, local, faithful, fold, membership, sisterhood, sorority, cabal, camarilla, camorra, confederacy, conspiracy, band, gang, ring, cartel, combine, syndicate

  2. the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions

    "an evening marked by a lovely dinner and the society of our closest friends"

    similar: brotherhood, camaraderie, community, companionship, company, comradery, comradeship, fellowship
    related: amity, benevolence, cordiality, friendliness, friendship, goodwill, kindliness, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, charity, generosity, affinity, compassion, empathy, sympathy, chumminess, familiarity, inseparability, intimacy, nearness, affection, devotion, fondness, love
    near: forlornness, loneliness, lonesomeness

  3. the way people live at a particular time and place

    "a pre-automobile society in which ordinary people rarely strayed far from home"

    similar: civilization, culture, life, lifestyle
    related: customs, manners, mores, values, folklore, heritage, legacy, tradition, subculture, subsociety

Related Entry: Cafe society (noun)

Cafe society is a different word from Society. The synonyms below are for cafe society, not for society.

  1. as in beautiful people, haut monde

    similar: A-list, beau monde, beautiful people, Four Hundred, glitterati, haut monde, jet set, society, aristocracy, elite, gentility, gentlefolk, gentry, nobility, patriciate, quality, upper class, upper crust, carriage trade, plutocracy
    opposite: proletarians, proletariat, commoners, (the) crowd, (the) masses, peasantry, peonage, (the) people, plebeians, plebs, (the) populace, (the) public, rank and file, bourgeoisie, middle class, working class, dregs, (the) herd, (the) mob, rabble, rabblement, riffraff, scum, trash

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Society

The most common words with a similar meaning to Society:

association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild, institute, institution, league, order, organization, sodality, camaraderie, community, companionship, company, comradery, comradeship, civilization, culture, life, lifestyle

Related Words for Society

collective, commune, cooperative, alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership, body, cadre, group, circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch, lot, set, crew, outfit, party, squad, team, branch, chapter, local, faithful, fold

Near Antonyms of Society

forlornness, loneliness, lonesomeness

Word Forms of Society

Inflections: societies

Origin & Etymology of Society

Middle French societé, from Latin societat-, societas, from socius companion social

First known use: 1529

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Society

Words & Phrases Containing Society

cafe society, friendly society, honor society, secret society, building society, debt to society, historical society

Frequently Asked Questions about Society

What does "Society" mean?

"Society" means companionship or association with one's fellows, friendly or intimate intercourse, company. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: companionship or association with one's fellows, friendly or intimate intercourse, company. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Society"?

Other words for "Society" include association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress and consortium. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Society" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Society"?

There are 109 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Society". Common alternatives include association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council and fellowship.

How do you use "Society" in a sentence?

Examples of "Society" in a sentence: "a debate society"; "an evening marked by a lovely dinner and the society of our closest friends"; "a pre-automobile society in which ordinary people rarely strayed far from home".

Is "Society" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Society" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Society" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Society" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Society"?

"Society" is pronounced /sə-ˈsī-ə-tē/ and divided into syllables as so·ci·e·ty.

What is the origin of the word "Society"?

"Society" comes from Middle French societé, from Latin societat-, societas, from socius companion social. First known use: 1529.