gəˈzelˌshäft noun
( plural gesellschafts -f(t)s ; also gesellschaf·ten -tən)
Etymology: German, literally, company, society, from Old High German giselliscaft companionship, from gisellio one that rooms with another, companion (from gi-, perfective, associative, and collective prefix + sal hall) + -scaft -ship — more at co- , saloon
1. : a rationally developed mechanistic type of social relationship characterized by impersonally contracted associations between persons — contrasted with gemeinschaft
2. : a society characterized by the relationships existing in a gesellschaft