civilized

civilized — adjective

1. Describing a society, country, or community that has advanced systems of governm

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Describing a society, country, or community that has advanced systems of government, law, education, and culture, and generally treats its people in a fair and just way.

Example

In a truly civilized nation, all children receive free education and proper medical care.

collocation: civilized nation / civilized society

The ambassador praised the two countries for building a civilized relationship based on mutual respect.

collocation: civilized relationship

Common collocations
  • civilized society
  • civilized nation
  • civilized country
  • civilized world
  • civilized government
  • civilized system
  • civilized relationship
Synonyms
  • advanced

    Focuses on technological and economic development rather than fairness or culture.

  • developed

    More neutral; describes economic and industrial growth without the moral judgment of 'civilized'.

  • enlightened

    Emphasises progressive, tolerant, and rational attitudes in a society.

Antonyms
  • uncivilized

    Direct opposite; describes a society lacking advanced systems or fair treatment.

  • primitive

    Suggests an early stage of development, often with negative connotations.

Grammar Patterns

civilized + noun (society / nation / country / world)

Usage Note

Commonly used as an attributive adjective before nouns like 'society', 'nation', 'world', and 'country'. It implies both material development and fair treatment of people.

Common Mistakes

The restaurant was very civilized.
The country has a very civilized legal system.
Sense 1 describes entire societies or institutions, not individual places.

2. Acting with politeness, self-control, and respect toward others, especially when

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Acting with politeness, self-control, and respect toward others, especially when discussing disagreements or dealing with difficult situations.

Example

Leila remained civilized during the debate, listening carefully without interrupting her opponent.

remain + civilized (link-verb pattern)

Tomás showed civilized behaviour by waiting his turn and thanking the staff afterward.

civilized behaviour

Common collocations
  • civilized behaviour
  • civilized way
  • civilized manner
  • civilized discussion
  • civilized debate
  • civilized tone
Synonyms
  • polite

    More general and commonly used for everyday good manners; lacks the 'calm under pressure' implication.

  • courteous

    More formal; suggests deliberate, respectful behaviour often in professional settings.

  • civil

    Describes the minimum acceptable level of politeness, often implying restraint rather than warmth.

Antonyms
  • rude

    Direct opposite; describes behaviour that is impolite or disrespectful.

  • uncivilized

    In this sense, describes behaviour that is wild, aggressive, or lacking self-control.

Grammar Patterns

be / stay / remain + civilized

civilized + noun (behaviour / way / manner / discussion)

Usage Note

Frequently used in the pattern 'stay/remain civilized' to describe keeping calm under pressure. Also common in negative constructions such as 'it is not civilized to...'.

Common Mistakes

She gave a civilized smile.
They settled the argument in a civilized manner.
This sense works best for behaviour during disagreements or tense situations, not for routine politeness.

3. Describing a place, environment, or way of living that offers ease, comfort, and

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

Describing a place, environment, or way of living that offers ease, comfort, and the modern conveniences people expect, often in contrast to rougher or more basic conditions.

Example

The hotel room felt civilized, with soft beds, hot water, and a garden view.

civilized with [amenities] (complement pattern)

After a week of camping, the family enjoyed the civilized comforts of their own home.

civilized comforts

Common collocations
  • civilized comforts
  • civilized lifestyle
  • civilized surroundings
  • civilized weekend
  • civilized hotel
Synonyms
  • comfortable

    More general and neutral; lacks the contrast with rough conditions that 'civilized' implies.

  • pleasant

    Focuses on enjoyment rather than convenience or modern facilities.

  • luxurious

    Suggests a higher degree of wealth and indulgence beyond what 'civilized' conveys.

Antonyms
  • rough

    Describes conditions without modern comforts, often associated with outdoor or basic living.

  • primitive

    Describes a very basic level of living without modern amenities.

Grammar Patterns

feel / look / seem + civilized

civilized + noun (lifestyle / comfort / surroundings)

Usage Note

Often used humorously or to highlight a contrast with something basic, rustic, or uncomfortable. The sense carries a touch of personal appreciation rather than objective description.

Common Mistakes

My bathroom is very civilized.
The cottage felt surprisingly civilized once the heating was installed.
This sense works best when contrasting a comfortable situation with a less comfortable one.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These four words all describe a society or system that has reached a high level, but they differ in emphasis. 'Advanced' focuses on technological and economic progress: an advanced economy has cutting-edge industries. 'Developed' is the most neutral term and is used in official classifications: a developed country meets certain income and infrastructure benchmarks. 'Civilized' carries a moral dimension — it implies the society treats its people fairly, not just that it is rich or technically capable. 'Enlightened' goes further, emphasising progressive, tolerant, and rational attitudes: an enlightened policy supports education and human rights even when they are not popular. 'Cultivated' is less common for societies and more often describes individuals with refined taste and knowledge. To choose between them, consider whether you want to highlight material progress (advanced/developed), moral fairness (civilized), or progressive values (enlightened). For example, 'Singapore is a highly developed country with an advanced transport system,' but 'The Nordic countries are often described as civilized societies because of their strong social safety nets and fair legal systems.'

advanced ↗developed ↗enlightenedcultivated

Common collocations

Nouns

  • civilized society
  • civilized world
  • civilized country
  • civilized nation
  • civilized behavior
  • civilized way
  • civilized manner
  • civilized life
  • civilized comforts
  • civilized lifestyle

Adverbs

  • highly civilized
  • fully civilized
  • properly civilized
  • surprisingly civilized
  • truly civilized

Phrases

  • in a civilized way
  • in a civilized manner
  • no civilized person would...
  • it is not civilized to...

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Civilized' comes from the Latin word 'civis', meaning 'citizen'. From 'civis' came 'civilitas' (the state of being a citizen and following the rules of city life), which passed into French as 'civiliser' and then into English as 'civilize'. The original idea was about people who lived in a city community with shared rules — the opposite of living in the wild or outside organised society. Over several centuries, the word expanded from describing organised communities to describing both polite behaviour and comfortable modern living. The adjective 'civilized' appeared in English in the early 1600s.