Link Centre Dictionary

civilization

ci·vi·li·zation

UK/ˌsɪv.ɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ US/ˌsɪv.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ fairly common

noun

1.

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”
Synonyms
2.
3.

a particular society at a particular time and place

  • “early Mayan civilization”
Synonyms
4.

the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste

  • “a man of intellectual refinement”
  • “he is remembered for his generosity and civilization”
Synonyms

Origin

Borrowed from French civilisation, equivalent to civilize + -ation or civil + -ization.

Phrases

  • cradle of civilization
  • Harappan Civilization
  • Indus Civilization
  • Indus Valley Civilization

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Part of

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.