Ger. /geuh zel"shahft'/ , n. , pl. gesellschaften Ger. /-shahf'teuhn/ . ( often cap. )
1. an association of individuals for common goals, as for entertainment, intellectual, or cultural purposes or for business reasons.
2. Sociol. a society or group characterized chiefly by formal organization, impersonal relations, the absence of generally held or binding norms, and a detachment from traditional and sentimental concerns, and often tending to be rationalistic and secular in outlook. Cf. Gemeinschaft .
[ 1935-40; Geselle companion + -schaft -SHIP ]