If you describe a society as civilized, you mean that it is advanced and has sensible laws and customs.
[approval]
I believed that in civilized countries, torture had ended long ago.
2. adjective
If you describe a person or their behaviour as civilized, you mean that they are polite and reasonable.
I wrote to my ex-wife. She was very civilised about it.
More Synonyms of civilized
civilized in British English
or civilised (ˈsɪvɪˌlaɪzd)
adjective
1.
having a high state of culture and social development
2.
cultured; polite
a civilized discussion
Examples of 'civilized' in a sentence
civilized
They were civilized people who knew when society gets stale.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
How could the individual man be civilized?
Rotundo, E. Anthony American Manhood: Transformations in Masculinity from the Revolution to the ModernEra (1993)
Enjoy it while you are still in a civilized country.
Magnouloux, Bernard Travels with Rosinante (1990)
They acted so differently from civilized people in Rome!
Christianity Today (2000)
But tell me, is it a civilized country?
L. Frank Baum The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
All were to be denied the acceptance they sought because they did not observe the forms of civilized behaviour so dear to their social superiors.
Hugh Bicheno REBELS AND REDCOATS: The American Revolutionary War (2003)
If not, then they deserve some sympathy for respecting the standards of civilized behaviour in the face of provocation by those not similarly inhibited.
Hugh Bicheno REBELS AND REDCOATS: The American Revolutionary War (2003)
The men are in disbelief: 'Why this is a civilized country!
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The rising Japanese did not do what many other newly civilized people have done in history: embark on an effort of conquest.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
The naval personnel had made it to national TV and become celebrities, and in civilized society celebrities receive suitable honors.
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
In other languages
civilized
British English: civilized ADJECTIVE
If you describe a society as civilized, you mean that it is advanced and has sensible laws and customs.
Some think boxing should be illegal in a civilized society.