society

society — noun

1. All the inhabitants of a country or region, considered as an organised whole wit

1.nounB1
Definition

All the inhabitants of a country or region, considered as an organised whole with shared laws, customs, and institutions. Without an article, the word refers to people in general; with an article such as "a" or "the", it picks out one specific population.

Example

Maeve's town organised free meals for seniors and kids after the factory closed — society at its best.

collocation: society at its best

In many traditional societies, the eldest son inherits the family land.

countable: a particular society / traditional societies

Common collocations
  • civil society
  • modern society
  • human society
  • consumer society
  • industrial society
  • society as a whole
Synonyms
  • community

    Smaller and more local than society; focuses on people living in one place or sharing a particular identity

  • civilization

    Emphasises the level of cultural and technological development, not just organisation

  • the public

    Refers to ordinary people rather than the whole organised group; contrasts with private or official spheres

Grammar Patterns

society + verb

in + society

a + adjective + society

Usage Note

Uncountable when referring to people in general ("society as a whole"). Countable when pointing to a specific group ("an industrial society", "Japanese society"). The definite article is commonly used with modifiers: "the society we live in."

Common Mistakes

Society needs to do something about the pollution.' (vague reference).
Our society needs to do more about the pollution.
Adding a determiner makes the reference clearer and more natural.
The society changes very slowly.' (overgeneralised article).
Society changes very slowly.
Use no article when referring to people in general.

2. The group of wealthy, powerful, and fashionable people who attend exclusive soci

2.nounB2
Definition

The group of wealthy, powerful, and fashionable people who attend exclusive social events and whose activities are often covered by the media.

Example

The charity ball was one of the most important events in New York society.

pattern: in [city] society

Magazines like to print photos of society women at parties and holiday resorts.

attributive noun: society women

Common collocations
  • high society
  • polite society
  • society wedding
  • society hostess
  • society event
  • society pages
  • moved in society
Synonyms
  • the elite

    More general — can refer to wealth, power, or talent, not specifically fashion and social events

  • the upper class

    Emphasises inherited wealth and social rank rather than fashionable lifestyle

  • high society

    The most common fixed expression for this sense, less formal than 'society' alone

Grammar Patterns

high society

in society

society + noun

Usage Note

Often preceded by a city or place name ("Boston society", "Paris society"). The phrase "high society" is the most common form of this sense. Frequently used as an attributive noun before another noun ("society wedding", "society hostess").

Common Mistakes

She belongs to the local historical society.' (meaning an organisation).
She belongs to high society.
For this sense, use "high society" or "polite society," not "a society."

3. The experience or condition of being together with other people, especially when

3.nounB1
Definition

The experience or condition of being together with other people, especially when this is pleasant and gives a feeling of belonging.

Example

After retiring, Felix missed the society of his former colleagues.

pattern: the society of [people]

Yael enjoys the society of people who share her passion for hiking.

Common collocations
  • the society of friends
  • the society of others
  • crave society
  • seek the society of
  • enjoy the society of
Synonyms
  • company

    Less formal; the common choice in everyday conversation ("keep me company", "good company")

  • companionship

    More emotional than society; suggests a closer, warmer relationship

  • fellowship

    Suggests shared aims or values, often in religious or academic contexts

Antonyms
  • loneliness

    The opposite feeling of being without others

  • isolation

    A physical state of being separated from others

Grammar Patterns

the society of + noun phrase

the society of + someone

Usage Note

This sense is more formal than everyday alternatives like "company" or "being with." It almost always appears in the pattern "the society of [someone]." Typical verbs used with this sense include "enjoy," "crave," "miss," "seek," and "avoid."

Common Mistakes

I enjoy your society.' (too formal for everyday speech).
I enjoy your company.
Use "company" instead in informal conversation; "society" in this sense is reserved for more formal or literary contexts.

4. Any organised body whose members pursue a common interest, hobby, or goal throug

4.nounB1
Definition

Any organised body whose members pursue a common interest, hobby, or goal through regular meetings or activities.

Example

Aaron joined the university debating society to improve his public speaking skills.

collocation: debating society

The local historical society organises guided tours of old buildings every weekend.

Common collocations
  • debating society
  • historical society
  • film society
  • student society
  • medical society
  • join a society
  • member of a society
Synonyms
  • club

    Less formal; often used for social or sports groups rather than academic or charitable ones

  • association

    More formal; often used for professional or trade organisations

  • organisation

    The broadest term; covers societies, clubs, charities, and companies alike

Grammar Patterns

a/an + adjective + society

the + subject + society

[interest] + society

Usage Note

Used in the names of many organisations ("the Royal Society," "the American Cancer Society"). The noun describing the interest or field usually comes before "society" ("history society", "film society", "music society"). Unlike sense 1, this sense is always countable and takes an article.

Common Mistakes

I joined society at university.' (missing article, confusing with sense 1).
I joined a society at university.
This sense requires an article or determiner.
The debating society meets every society.' (repeating the headword).
The debating society meets every Tuesday.
Do not confuse the organisation name with the word 'society' used in another sense.

society — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Society is the broadest of these terms, referring to any large, organised group of people living under shared institutions and norms. Community is smaller and more local, often tied to a specific place or identity (the Chinese community, a coastal fishing community). Culture focuses on the shared beliefs, customs, art, and language of a group rather than its political or economic organisation. Civilization suggests a society that has reached an advanced stage of development in technology, government, and the arts. The public refers to ordinary people in general, especially in contrast to private individuals or officials. For example: "Modern society faces challenges that no single community can solve alone," and "Ancient Greek civilization shaped Western culture in lasting ways."

society ↗community ↗culture ↗civilization ↗the public

Common collocations

Nouns

  • members of society
  • role in society
  • fabric of society
  • structure of society
  • part of society

Adverbs

Phrases

  • society at large
  • society as a whole
  • pillars of society
  • cornerstone of society

Prepositions

  • in society
  • of society
  • within society
  • outside society

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Society entered English in the 1500s from Old French 'societé', which came from Latin 'societās' meaning 'fellowship, alliance, companionship'. The Latin word was formed from 'socius' meaning 'companion, ally, partner', which is also the root of words like 'social' and 'associate'. Over time, the meaning broadened from a small group of companions to the large-scale organisation of people that we understand today.