adjective
1. : advanced in social culture : characterized by progress especially in statecraft and in the arts and sciences
the essential characteristic of a highly civilized society is … that it is appreciative — Clive Bell
2. : of or relating to peoples or nations in a state of civilization
must not be supposed that there is any essential stability in a civilized way of life — Bertrand Russell
3.
a. : characterized by politeness, refinement, or good breeding
had become a civilized chivalrous Christian knight — Charles Kingsley
b. : characterized by sophistication or urbanity
he is humorous, ironic, and penetrating in a dispassionate civilized way — Marvin Lowenthal
• civ·i·lized·ness ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌlīzə̇dnə̇s, -z(d)n- noun -es