a large group of people who live together in an organized way, making decisions about how to do things and sharing the work that needs to be done. All the people in a country, or in several similar countries, can be referred to as a society
جامعه، اجتماع
There's a danger that we will end up blaming innocent children for society's problems.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
society
noun
1 (no plural) a large group of people who live in the same country or area and have the same ideas about how to live:
They carried out research into the roles of men and women in today's society.
2 (plural societies) a group of people who are interested in the same thing:
a music society
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
society
so‧ci‧e‧ty S1 W1 /səˈsaɪəti, səˈsaɪɪti/ BrE AmE 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
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ 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.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ organization a group of people, companies, or countries, which is set up for a particular purpose: Greenpeace is an international organization that protects the environment. | the World Health Organization
▪ institution a large important organization such as a bank, church, or university: The University is an important academic institution. | financial institutions such as banks
▪ association an organization for people in a particular profession, sport, or activity, which officially represents its members – often used in names: I met a representative of the National Association of Teachers. | the Football Association
▪ party an organization of people with the same political aims which you can vote for in elections: Which political party do you support? | He voted for the Republican Party’s candidate.
▪ body an important group of people who make the rules and advise people about what should be allowed: the sport’s governing body | The government has set up an advisory body.
▪ club/society an organization for people who share an interest, for example a sport: We belong to a tennis club. | I joined the university film society.
▪ union an organization formed by workers in order to protect their rights: The union ordered its members out on strike.
▪ charity an organization which collects money to help people who are poor, sick etc and does not make any profit for itself: She has raised a lot of money for local charities.
▪ quango British English disapproving an organization set up by the government, which has official power but whose members have not been elected: the amount of money that is wasted on government quangos
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
society / səˈsaɪ.ə.ti / / -t̬i / noun (PEOPLE)
B1 [ C or U ] a large group of people who live together in an organized way, making decisions about how to do things and sharing the work that needs to be done. All the people in a country, or in several similar countries, can be referred to as a society:
a classless/multicultural/capitalist/civilized society
These changes strike at the heart of British/American/modern society.
There's a danger that we will end up blaming innocent children for society's problems.
We must also consider the needs of the younger/older members of society.
[ U ] ( also high society ) the part of society that consists of people who are rich, powerful, and fashionable:
a society hostess/ball/function
[ U ] formal the state of being together with other people:
She prefers her own society (= likes to be alone) .
Word partners for society
build / create a society • live in a society • a member of society • a section / segment of society • a civilized / classless / democratic / multicultural society • modern society • in society
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
society
[səsa͟ɪɪti]
societies
1) N-UNCOUNT Society is people in general, thought of as a large organized group.
This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society...
He maintains Islam must adapt to modern society.
2) N-VAR: with supp A society is the people who live in a country or region, their organizations, and their way of life.
We live in a capitalist society.
...those responsible for destroying our African heritage and the fabric of our society.
...the complexities of South African society.
3) N-COUNT A society is an organization for people who have the same interest or aim.
...the North of England Horticultural Society.
...the historical society.
Syn:
association
4) N-UNCOUNT: oft N n Society is the rich, fashionable people in a particular place who meet on social occasions.
The couple quickly became a fixture of society pages.
...the high season for society weddings.
5) → See also building society
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
society
so·ci·ety /səˈsajəti/ noun, pl -et·ies
1 [noncount] : 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
[count]
• ancient/modern societies
• Christian/consumer societies
• We need to do more to help the poorer members of our society.
[noncount]
• 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 of the middle and upper classes who speak and behave in a polite way]
3 [noncount] : 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 noun
• society ladies/fashions/parties
• the newspaper's society page
4 [count] : 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 [noncount] formal : the state of being with other people
• He avoided the society [=company] of other writers.