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 ; ⇨ ↑ social 1 ]
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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the World Health Organization
▪ institution a large important organization such as a bank, church, or university:
The University is an important academic institution.
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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.
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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?
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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
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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.
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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