civ·i·li·za·tion (s v  -l-z  shn)n. 1. An advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of record-keeping, including writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions. 2. The type of culture and society developed by a particular nation or region or in a particular epoch: Mayan civilization; the civilization of ancient Rome. 3. The act or process of civilizing or reaching a civilized state. 4. Cultural or intellectual refinement; good taste. 5. Modern society with its conveniences: returned to civilization after camping in the mountains. |
civilization, civilisation [ˌsɪvɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən]
n
1. (Sociology) a human society that has highly developed material and spiritual resources and a complex cultural, political, and legal organization; an advanced state in social development
2. the peoples or nations collectively who have achieved such a state
3. the total culture and way of life of a particular people, nation, region, or period classical civilization
4. the process of bringing or achieving civilization
5. intellectual, cultural, and moral refinement
6. cities or populated areas, as contrasted with sparsely inhabited areas, deserts, etc.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  civilization - 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"political science, politics, government - the study of government of states and other political units society - an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization |
| 2. |  civilization - the social process whereby societies achieve an advanced stage of development and organizationsocial process - a process involved in the formation of groups of persons | |
| 3. |  civilization - a particular society at a particular time and place; "early Mayan civilization"archaeology, archeology - the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people and their cultures society - an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization subculture - a social group within a national culture that has distinctive patterns of behavior and beliefs Aegean civilisation, Aegean civilization, Aegean culture - the prehistoric civilization on the islands in the Aegean sea and the surrounding countries; "by 800 BC the entire Aegean had adopted this style of pottery" Helladic civilisation, Helladic civilization, Helladic culture - the bronze-age culture of mainland Greece that flourished 2500-1100 BC Indus civilization - the bronze-age culture of the Indus valley that flourished from about 2600-1750 BC Minoan civilisation, Minoan civilization, Minoan culture - the bronze-age culture of Crete that flourished 3000-1100 BC Mycenaean civilisation, Mycenaean civilization, Mycenaean culture - the late bronze-age culture of Mycenae that flourished 1400-1100 BC Paleo-American culture, Paleo-Amerind culture, Paleo-Indian culture - the prehistoric culture of the earliest human inhabitants of North America and South America Western civilization, Western culture - the modern culture of western Europe and North America; "when Ghandi was asked what he thought of Western civilization he said he thought it would be a good idea" | |
| 4. | civilization - the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste; "a man of intellectual refinement"; "he is remembered for his generosity and civilization" excellence - the quality of excelling; possessing good qualities in high degree |
civilization
noun
1. society, people, community, nation, polity He believed Western civilization was in grave economic and cultural danger.
2. culture, development, education, progress, enlightenment, sophistication, advancement, cultivation, refinement a race with an advanced state of civilization
Quotations
"Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities" [Mark Twain]
"Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities" [Mark Twain]
Translations
civilization [ˌsɪvɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən] civilisation (British) n
(= society) → civilisation f
(= way of life) → civilisation f
civilization
n
(= civilized world) → Zivilisation f; all civilization → die ganze zivilisierte Welt; civilization!, the explorer exclaimed → Menschen!, rief der Forscher aus
(= state: of Greeks etc) → Kultur f
(= act) → Zivilisierung f
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