society

so·ci·e·ty

S0527000 (sə-sī′ĭ-tē)n. pl. so·ci·e·ties 1. a. The totality of people regarded as forming a community of interdependent individuals: working for the benefit of society.b. A group of people broadly distinguished from other groups by mutual interests, participation in characteristic relationships, shared institutions, and a common culture: rural society; literary society.2. An organization or association of persons engaged in a common profession, activity, or interest: a folklore society; a society of bird watchers.3. The wealthy, socially dominant members of a community. Also called high society.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 societās, fellowship, from socius, companion; see sek^w- in Indo-European roots.]

society

(səˈsaɪətɪ) n, pl -ties1. (Sociology) the totality of social relationships among organized groups of human beings or animals2. (Sociology) a system of human organizations generating distinctive cultural patterns and institutions and usually providing protection, security, continuity, and a national identity for its members3. (Sociology) such a system with reference to its mode of social and economic organization or its dominant class: middle-class society. 4. (Sociology) those with whom one has companionship5. an organized group of people associated for some specific purpose or on account of some common interest: a learned society. 6. a. the privileged class of people in a community, esp as considered superior or fashionableb. (as modifier): a society woman. 7. the social life and intercourse of such people: to enter society as a debutante. 8. companionship; the fact or state of being together with someone else: I enjoy her society. 9. (Botany) ecology a small community of plants within a larger association[C16: via Old French societé from Latin societās, from socius a comrade]

so•ci•e•ty

(səˈsaɪ ɪ ti)

n., pl. -ties,
adj. n. 1. an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. 2. a body of individuals living as members of a community; community. 3. human beings collectively, viewed as members of a community: the evolution of society. 4. a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members: American society. 5. such a system characterized by its dominant economic class or form: middle-class society; an industrial society. 6. those with whom one has companionship. 7. companionship; company. 8. the social life of wealthy, prominent, or fashionable persons. 9. the social class that comprises such persons. 10. the condition of those living in companionship with others, or in a community, rather than in isolation. 11. Biol. a closely integrated group of social organisms of the same species exhibiting division of labor. adj. 12. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of elegant society: a society photographer. [1525–35; < Middle French societe < Latin societās <soci(us) partner, comrade]

sociable, social, society - Sociable, social, society, etc. originate in Latin socius, "companion, fellow," or "colleague."See also related terms for social.

Society

See also communalism; government; politics.
activismthe attitude of taking an active part in events, especially in a social context. — activist, n.anthropophobiaan abnormal fear of people, especially in groups.aristocracy1. government by the best people.
2. an upper class based on quality, nobility, etc.aristocraticisma dedication to aristocratie behavior.aristocratismthe attitudes and actions of aristocrats.autocracya society or nation ruled by a person with absolute authority. — autocrat, n. — autocratie, adj.beerocracyIn England. the aristocracy that gained its wealth and social posi-tion from the ownership of breweries.chemocracya Utopian society in which all foods and other material needs will be prepared by chemical processes. — chemocrat, n.chrysocracyan upper class based on wealth. Also chrysoaristocracy.civicsthe area of political science concerned with citizenship.confraternitya brotherhood, especially a group of men bound by a common goal or interest.cottonocracythat portion of the upper class whose wealth comes from the cotton trade. — cottonocrat, n.democratisma doctrine of or belief in social equality or the right of all people to participate equally in politics.do-goodismattitudes or actions of well-intentioned but sometimes ineffectual people, especially in the area of social reform.ecology, oecologythe branch of sociology that studies the environmental spacing and interdependence of people and their institutions. — ecologist, oecologist, n. — ecologie, oecologic, ecological, oecological, adj.enculturationthe process by which a person adapts to and assimilates the culture in which he lives.exclusionismthe doctrine or practice of excluding certain groups or individuals from enjoyment of certain rights or privileges. — exclusionist, n.Fichteanismtheories and beliefs of J. G. Fichte (1762-1814), German philosopher and social thinker, a precursor of socialism. — Fichtean, n., adj.foolocracygovernment or domination of society by fools.fractionalismthe state of being nonhomogeneous or inharmonious. — fractionalization, n.fraternitya fellowship or association of men, as for a benevolent or charitable purpose or at a college.kakotopiaa state in which the worst possible conditions exist in government, society, law. etc. See also utopia.landocracya ruling class that owes its power to its possession of land. — landocrat, n.manorialism1. 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.matriarchate1. a matriarchal form of government.
2. a family, tribe, or other social group ruled by a matriarch or matriarchs. — matriarchic, adj.mediocracygovernment or dominance of society by the médiocre.meritocracya powerful class composed of people who have achieved position on the basis of their merit rather than by birth or privilege. — meritocrat, n.moneyocracygovernment or domination of society by the rich.oiligarchyFacetious. a wealthy and dominant force in society whose wealth and power is based on control of oil.orthogenesisthe sociological theory that all cultures or societies follow the same fixed course of determinate evolution. See also evolution. — orthogenetic, adj.pariahismthe condition of being outcast from society. — pariahdom, n.parsonarchythe domination of a social group, especially a small rural com-munity, by the parson.parvenuism1. 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.phratry1. a subdivision of an ancient Greek tribe or phyle.
2. a clan or other unit of a primitive tribe.reclusionthe state of living apart from society, like a hermit. — recluse, n. — reclusive, adj.seneschalshipthe rank, position or jurisdiction of a steward of a medieval prince or nobleman.snobocracyFacetious. snobs as a class in society.socializationthe process of adapting to a social group; social intercourse or activity.sociocracycollective government or government by society as a whole.sociologisma theory asserted sociologistically. — sociologistic, adj.sociology1. 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.sociometrythe measurement of social attitudes within a group by sampling expressions of social acceptance or rejection. — sociometrist, n. — sociometrie, adj.socionomyRare. the study of the laws that govern the development of society.sodalitya fellowship, brotherhood, or other association of a benevolent nature, especially in the Roman Catholic Church. — sodalist, n., adj.solidarismSociology. 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.solidaritythe feeling or expression of union in a group formed by a common interest.sororitya fellowship or association of women, as for a benevolent or charitable purpose or at a college.sorosisa woman’s club or society, named after a club of that name, founded in 1869.squirearchyIn Britain. the squires or landed gentry as a class.syssitiathe 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, telesisthe harnessing of natural and social forces for a beneficial goal.totemism1. 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.welfarismthe 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.

Society

Civilization, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder —Anon
A good civilization spreads over us freely like a tree, varying and yielding because it is alive. A bad civilization stands up and sticks out above us like an umbrella —G. K. Chesterton
A community is like a ship; every one ought to be prepared to take the helm —Henrik Ibsen
Modern society is like a Calder mobile: disturb it here and it jiggles over there, too —George F. Will
Social life is a form of do-it-yourself theater —Muriel Oxenberg Murphy, New York Times interview
Societies, like individuals, have their moral crises and their spiritual revolutions —Richard H. Tawney
Society is a kind of parent to its members. If it, and they, are to thrive, its values must be clear, coherent and generally acceptable —Milton R. Sapirstein
Society is a masked ball, where everyone hides his real character, and reveals it in hiding —Ralph Waldo Emerson
Society is like air; very high up, it is sublimated, too low down, a perfect choke-damp —Anon
Society is like a lawn, where every roughness is smoothed, every bramble eradicated, and where the eye is delighted by the smiling verdure of a velvet surface —Washington Irving
Society is like a wave. The wave moves onward, but the water of which it is composed does not —Ralph Waldo Emerson
Society is like the air, necessary to breathe, but insufficient to live on —George Santayana

society

1. used as an uncountable noun

Society refers to people in general, considered as a large organized group.

Women must have equal status in society.The whole structure of society is changing.

When society has this meaning, don't use 'a' or 'the' in front of it.

2. used as a countable noun

A society refers to the people of a particular country, considered as an organized group.

We live in a multi-cultural society.Industrial societies became increasingly complex.

A society is also an organization for people who share an interest or aim.

The gardens are owned by the Royal Horticultural Society.He was a member of the National Society of Film Critics.

society

A group of people who form a system of relationships and have their own culture.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	society - an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organizationsocial group - people sharing some social relationsector - 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 tribesocial 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, orderassociation - 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 learningbookclub - a club that people join in order to buy selected books at reduced priceschapter - a local branch of some fraternity or association; "he joined the Atlanta chapter"chess club - a club of people to play chesscountry club - a suburban club for recreation and socializingfrat, fraternity - a social club for male undergraduatesglee club - a club organized to sing togethergolf club - a club of people to play golfhunt club, hunt - an association of huntsmen who hunt for sportinvestors club - a club of small investors who buy and sell securities jointlyjockey club - a club to promote and regulate horse racingracket club - club for players of racket sportsrowing club - a club for rowersslate 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 undergraduatesturnverein - a club of tumblers or gymnastsboat club, yacht club - club that promotes and supports yachting and boatingservice club - a club of professional or business people organized for their coordination and active in public servicesclub 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, companyfreemasonry - 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 setFour Hundred - the exclusive social set of a cityelite, elite group - a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status

society

noun1. the community, social order, people, the public, the population, humanity, civilization, mankind, the general public, the world at large This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society.2. community, culture, population those responsible for destroying our African heritage and the fabric of our society3. organization, group, club, union, league, association, institute, circle, corporation, guild, fellowship, fraternity, brotherhood or sisterhood the historical society4. 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) The couple tried to secure themselves a position in society.5. (Old-fashioned) companionship, company, fellowship, friendship, camaraderie I largely withdrew from the society of others.Quotations
"Human life in common is only made possible when a majority comes together which is stronger than any separate individual and which remains united against all separate individuals" [Sigmund Freud Civilization and Its Discontents]
"Man did not enter into society to become worse than he was before, nor to have fewer rights than he had before, but to have those rights better secured" [Thomas Paine The Rights of Man]
"There is no such thing as society" [Margaret Thatcher]
"He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god" [Aristotle Politics]

society

noun1. Persons as an organized body:community, people, public.2. A group of people united in a relationship and having some interest, activity, or purpose in common:association, club, confederation, congress, federation, fellowship, fraternity, guild, league, order, organization, sorority, union.3. People of the highest social level:aristocracy, blue blood, crème de la crème, elite, flower, gentility, gentry, nobility, patriciate, quality, upper class, who's who.Informal: upper crust.4. A pleasant association among people:companionship, company, fellowship.

Translations

社会社会集团社团社群上流社会

society

(səˈsaiəti) – plural soˈcieties – noun1. mankind considered as a whole. He was a danger to society.社会2. a particular group or part of mankind considered as a whole. middle-class society; modern western societies. 社会集团，社群，社会 3. an association or club. a model railway society. 社团，协会，学会 4. the class of people who are wealthy, fashionable or of high rank in any area. high society.上流社会5. company or companionship. I enjoy the society of young people. 相伴，交往

society

→ 社会zhCN

society

mutual admiration society

A disparaging term for two (or more) people who engage in lavish mutual praise and admiration. I can't stand working with Tony and Linda. They praise each other from the moment they walk through the door—it's like they've formed a mutual admiration society!See also: mutual, society

pillar of society

One who is a particularly active, respected, and influential member of one's local social sphere. My grandfather was a pillar of society because of how many people his businesses employed. She was long considered a pillar of society, so she won the mayoral election with ease.See also: of, pillar, society

pillar of the community

One who is a particularly active, respected, and influential member of one's local social sphere. My grandfather was a pillar of the community because of how many people his businesses employed. She was long considered a pillar of the community, so she won the mayoral election with ease.See also: community, of, pillar

café society

A phrase used to describe the rich and famous subset of society of who spend much of their time going to trendy places, especially in the early 20th century. My grandmother always says that my favorite Hollywood gossip magazines talk about "café society," whatever that is.See also: society

pay (one's) debt to society

To serve the sentence given to one upon conviction of a crime. In the eyes of the law, he has paid his debt to society, so he shouldn't be facing any further punishment for his past crimes. I spent nearly 15 years in prison—I paid my debt to society!See also: debt, pay, society

pay (one's) dues to society

To serve the sentence given to one upon conviction of a crime. In the eyes of the law, he has paid his dues to society, so he shouldn't be facing any further punishment for his past crimes. I spent nearly 15 years in prison—I paid my dues to society!See also: due, pay, society

mutual admiration society

A relationship in which two people have strong feelings of esteem for each other and often exchange lavish compliments. The term may signify either genuine or pretended admiration, as in Each of them praised the other's book-it was a real mutual admiration society. The expression was invented by Henry David Thoreau in his journal (1851) and repeated by Oliver Wendell Holmes and others. See also: mutual, society

society

see under mutual admiration society.

a pillar of society

a pillar of the community

If you describe someone as a pillar of society or a pillar of the community, you mean that they are an active and respected member of a group of people. He is a pillar of society, the son every mother would love to have. My father had been a pillar of the community.See also: of, pillar, society

a pillar of society

a person regarded as a particularly responsible citizen. The use of pillar to mean ‘a person regarded as a mainstay or support for something’ is recorded from medieval times; Pillars of Society was the English title of an 1888 play by the Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen .See also: of, pillar, society

a pillar of soˈciety, etc.

a person who is respected in society, etc.; a person of importance: I couldn’t believe that a pillar of the community like him had been caught stealing from his employer.See also: of, pillar

pay one’s dues (to society)

tv. to serve a prison or jail sentence. I served ten years in prison. I’ve paid my dues to society. The matter is settled. See also: due, pay, society

high society

Prominent in fashionable society, implying wealth and position. The term dates from the first half of the 1900s and was used as the title of a popular film of 1956, starring Grace Kelly (in her last acting role), Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and others, and featuring some songs by Cole Porter. See also upper crust.See also: high, society

mutual admiration society

A shared feeling of esteem, real or pretended, between two individuals for each other. This reciprocal relationship was first so called by Thoreau in 1851 and picked up by Oliver Wendell Holmes in The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table (1858). Today we often use the term sarcastically for individuals who publicly pay lavish compliments to each other but may have little respect for each other in private, or who admire each other but are not highly regarded by others.See also: mutual, society

pillar of society, a

A chief supporter of one’s community, social group, or other institution. The earliest example of being such a pillar dates from the early fourteenth century and involves a pillar of the church, which Eric Partridge deemed a particularly objectionable cliché by 1800 or so. Shakespeare used a slightly different locution in The Merchant of Venice; at the trial Shylock says, “I charge you by the law, whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,” presumably hoping that the judge will respond favorably to this compliment. From the late nineteenth century on, pillar of society was often used sarcastically or pejoratively, the target generally being both the individual and the society being upheld. Ibsen so used it in his play, translated as Pillars of Society (1877), and his example was followed by Shaw and others. Still another variant, pillar of the community, may be used either ironically or straightforwardly.See also: of, pillar

café society

The collective term for socialites and movie celebrities who frequented fashionable restaurants and nightclubs. From the end of World War I through the 1960s, the media covered the comings and goings of members of Society (with a capital S, the word referred to people of “good family,” which in turn meant old money), and glamorous movie stars much as celebrity-chroniclers now report on Paris Hilton, Brad/Angelina, TV reality show personalities, and other boldface celebrities. Among the more popular haunts were Manhattan's Stork Club and El Morocco nightclubs. Then as now, a substantial portion of the population was interested in the lives of their social betters, and newspaper gossip columnists reported on party- and club-goers in the next day's editions. It was one such scribe, Maury Paul (pen-name: Cholly Knickerbocker) who coined the phrase “café society.”See also: society

mutual admiration society

Two or more people who lavishly praise the other person's or people's personalities and accomplishments, often far beyond what is deserved. The phrase, which is said to have originated with Henry David Thoreau in 1851, may have been used earlier. Its use as the title of a song from the 1956 musical comedy Happy Hunting that was successfully recorded by a number of singers boosted the phrase's popularity.See also: mutual, society

society

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mutual admiration society

pillar of society

pillar of the community

café society

pay (one's) debt to society

pay (one's) dues to society

mutual admiration society

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a pillar of society

a pillar of the community

a pillar of society

a pillar of soˈciety, etc.

pay one’s dues (to society)

high society

mutual admiration society

pillar of society, a

café society

mutual admiration society

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Patient discussion about society

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Synonyms for society

noun the community

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noun community

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noun organization

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noun upper classes

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noun companionship

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Synonyms for society

noun persons as an organized body

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noun a group of people united in a relationship and having some interest, activity, or purpose in common

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noun people of the highest social level

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noun a pleasant association among people

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Synonyms for society

noun an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

Related Words

noun a formal association of people with similar interests

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noun the state of being with someone

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noun the fashionable elite

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