society

so·ci·e·ty  (s-s-t)

n. pl. so·ci·e·ties

1.

a. The totality of social relationships among humans.

b. A group of humans broadly distinguished from other groups by mutual interests, participation in characteristic relationships, shared institutions, and a common culture.

c. The institutions and culture of a distinct self-perpetuating group.

2. An organization or association of persons engaged in a common profession, activity, or interest: a folklore society; a society of bird watchers.

3.

a. The rich, privileged, and fashionable social class.

b. The socially dominant members of a community.

4. Companionship; company: enjoys the society of friends and family members.

5. Biology A colony or community of organisms, usually of the same species: an insect society.

---

[French société, from Old French, from Latin societs, fellowship, from socius, companion; see sek^w-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

---

society

Noun

pl -ties

1. human beings considered as a group

2. a group of people forming a single community with its own distinctive culture and institutions

3. the structure, culture, and institutions of such a group

4. an organized group of people sharing a common aim or interest: a dramatic society

5. the rich and fashionable class of society collectively

6. Old-fashioned companionship: I enjoy her society [Latin societas]

---

Society

See also communalism; government; politics.

activism

the attitude of taking an active part in events, especially in a social context. — activist, n.

anthropophobia

an abnormal fear of people, especially in groups.

aristocracy

1. government by the best people.
2. an upper class based on quality, nobility, etc.

aristocraticism

a dedication to aristocratie behavior.

aristocratism

the attitudes and actions of aristocrats.

autocracy

a society or nation ruled by a person with absolute authority. — autocrat, n. — autocratie, adj.

beerocracy

In England. the aristocracy that gained its wealth and social posi-tion from the ownership of breweries.

chemocracy

a Utopian society in which all foods and other material needs will be prepared by chemical processes. — chemocrat, n.

chrysocracy

an upper class based on wealth. Also chrysoaristocracy.

civics

the area of political science concerned with citizenship.

confraternity

a brotherhood, especially a group of men bound by a common goal or interest.

cottonocracy

that portion of the upper class whose wealth comes from the cotton trade. — cottonocrat, n.

democratism

a doctrine of or belief in social equality or the right of all people to participate equally in politics.

do-goodism

attitudes or actions of well-intentioned but sometimes ineffectual people, especially in the area of social reform.

ecology, oecology

the branch of sociology that studies the environmental spacing and interdependence of people and their institutions. — ecologist, oecologist, n. — ecologie, oecologic, ecological, oecological, adj.

enculturation

the process by which a person adapts to and assimilates the culture in which he lives.

exclusionism

the doctrine or practice of excluding certain groups or individuals from enjoyment of certain rights or privileges. — exclusionist, n.

Fichteanism

theories and beliefs of J. G. Fichte (1762-1814), German philosopher and social thinker, a precursor of socialism. — Fichtean, n., adj.

foolocracy

government or domination of society by fools.

fractionalism

the state of being nonhomogeneous or inharmonious. — fractionalization, n.

fraternity

a fellowship or association of men, as for a benevolent or charitable purpose or at a college.

kakotopia

a state in which the worst possible conditions exist in government, society, law. etc. See also utopia.

landocracy

a ruling class that owes its power to its possession of land. — landocrat, n.

manorialism

1. the system of manorial social and political organization, as in the Middle Ages.
2. its principles and practices.
3. Sometimes Pejorative. any small, strong unit of local political and social organization.

matriarchate

1. a matriarchal form of government.
2. a family, tribe, or other social group ruled by a matriarch or matriarchs. — matriarchic, adj.

mediocracy

government or dominance of society by the médiocre.

meritocracy

a powerful class composed of people who have achieved position on the basis of their merit rather than by birth or privilege. — meritocrat, n.

moneyocracy

government or domination of society by the rich.

oiligarchy

Facetious. a wealthy and dominant force in society whose wealth and power is based on control of oil.

orthogenesis

the sociological theory that all cultures or societies follow the same fixed course of determinate evolution. See also evolution. — orthogenetic, adj.

pariahism

the condition of being outcast from society. — pariahdom, n.

parsonarchy

the domination of a social group, especially a small rural com-munity, by the parson.

parvenuism

1. behavior or attitudes typical of one who has recently acquired wealth or social position.
2. the state or quality of being a parvenu or upstart. — parvenu, n., adj.

phratry

1. a subdivision of an ancient Greek tribe or phyle.
2. a clan or other unit of a primitive tribe.

reclusion

the state of living apart from society, like a hermit. — recluse, n. — reclusive, adj.

seneschalship

the rank, position or jurisdiction of a steward of a medieval prince or nobleman.

snobocracy

Facetious. snobs as a class in society.

socialization

the process of adapting to a social group; social intercourse or activity.

sociocracy

collective government or government by society as a whole.

sociologism

a theory asserted sociologistically. — sociologistic, adj.

sociology

1. the science or study of the origin, development, organization, and functioning of human society.
2. the science of the fundamental laws of social relations, institutions, etc. — sociologist, n. — sociologie, sociological, adj.

sociometry

the measurement of social attitudes within a group by sampling expressions of social acceptance or rejection. — sociometrist, n. — sociometrie, adj.

socionomy

Rare. the study of the laws that govern the development of society.

sodality

a fellowship, brotherhood, or other association of a benevolent nature, especially in the Roman Catholic Church. — sodalist, n., adj.

solidarism

Sociology. a theory that the possibility of founding a social organization upon a solidarity of interests is to be found in the natural interde-pendence of members of a society. — solidarist, n. — solidaristic, adj.

solidarity

the feeling or expression of union in a group formed by a common interest.

sorority

a fellowship or association of women, as for a benevolent or charitable purpose or at a college.

sorosis

a woman’s club or society, named after a club of that name, founded in 1869.

squirearchy

In Britain. the squires or landed gentry as a class.

syssitia

the practice or custom, as among the ancient Spartans and Cretans, of eating the main meal of the day together in public to strengthen social and political bonds.

telesia, telesis

the harnessing of natural and social forces for a beneficial goal.

totemism

1. the practice of having a natural object or animate being, as a bird or animal, as the emblem of a family, clan, or group.
2. the practice of regarding such a totem as mystically related to the family, clan, or group and therefore not to be hunted.
3. a system of tribal organization according to totems. — totemic, adj.

welfarism

the beliefs and policies associated with the welfare system.

---

Society the people in the fashionable world, 1813; certain communities of animals or insects.

Examples: society of beavers, 1794; of wasps, 1826.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	society - an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization social group - people sharing some social relation sector - a social group that forms part of the society or the economy; "the public sector" social class, socio-economic class, stratum, class - people having the same social, economic, or educational status; "the working class"; "an emerging professional class" civilization, civilisation - a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations); "the people slowly progressed from barbarism to civilization" culture, civilisation, civilization - a particular society at a particular time and place; "early Mayan civilization" open society - a society that allows its members considerable freedom (as in a democracy); "America's open society has made it an easy target for terrorists" tribal society - a society with the social organization of a tribe social organisation, social organization, social structure, social system, structure - the people in a society considered as a system organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships; "the social organization of England and America is very different"; "sociologists have studied the changing structure of the family"
	2.	society - a formal association of people with similar interests; "he joined a golf club"; "they formed a small lunch society"; "men from the fraternal order will staff the soup kitchen today" gild, guild, social club, club, lodge, order association - a formal organization of people or groups of people; "he joined the Modern Language Association" athenaeum, atheneum - a literary or scientific association for the promotion of learning bookclub - a club that people join in order to buy selected books at reduced prices chapter - a local branch of some fraternity or association; "he joined the Atlanta chapter" chess club - a club of people to play chess country club - a suburban club for recreation and socializing frat, fraternity - a social club for male undergraduates glee club - a club organized to sing together golf club - a club of people to play golf hunt club, hunt - an association of huntsmen who hunt for sport investors club - a club of small investors who buy and sell securities jointly jockey club - a club to promote and regulate horse racing racket club - club for players of racket sports rowing club - a club for rowers slate club - a group of people who save money in a common fund for a specific purpose (usually distributed at Christmas) sorority - a social club for female undergraduates turnverein - a club of tumblers or gymnasts boat club, yacht club - club that promotes and supports yachting and boating service club - a club of professional or business people organized for their coordination and active in public services club member - someone who is a member of a club
	3.	society - the state of being with someone; "he missed their company"; "he enjoyed the society of his friends" companionship, fellowship, company freemasonry - a natural or instinctive fellowship between people of similar interests; "he enjoyed the freemasonry of the Press" friendly relationship, friendship - the state of being friends (or friendly)
	4.	society - the fashionable elite beau monde, bon ton, high society, smart set Four Hundred - the exclusive social set of a city elite, elite group - a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status

---

society

noun 1. the community, social order, people, the public, the population, humanity, civilization, mankind, the general public, the world at large

noun 2. culture, community, population

noun 3. organization, group, club, union, league, association, institute, circle, corporation, guild, fellowship, fraternity, brotherhood or sisterhood

noun 4. upper classes, gentry, upper crust (informal) elite, the swells (informal) high society, the top drawer, polite society, the toffs Brit. (slang) the smart set, beau monde, the nobs (slang) the country set, haut monde (French)

noun 5. (Old-fashioned) companionship, company, fellowship, friendship, camaraderie

Translations

society [səˈsaɪətɪ] n → sociedad f (= club); asociación f (also: high society) → buena sociedad

cpd [party, column] → social, de sociedad

---

society [səˈsaɪətɪ] n → société f (= club); société, association f;

(also: high society) → (haute) société, grand monde

cpd [party] → mondain(e)

---

society [səˈsaɪətɪ] n → Gesellschaft f;

(people, their lifestyle) → die Gesellschaft;

(club) → Verein m;

(also: high society) → High Society f

cpd (party, lady) → Gesellschafts-

---

society [səˈsaɪətɪ] n → società f inv (= club); società, associazione f (also: high society) → alta società

cpd [party, column] → mondano/a