cultural lag: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Academic/Technical)Formal, academic, sociological
Quick answer
What does “cultural lag” mean?
The gap between the introduction of a new technology or innovation and the adjustment of a society's laws, customs, and values to accommodate it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The gap between the introduction of a new technology or innovation and the adjustment of a society's laws, customs, and values to accommodate it.
More broadly, the phenomenon where non-material culture (ideas, beliefs, norms) changes more slowly than material culture (technology, infrastructure), leading to social tension or problems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. The term is academic and used identically.
Connotations
Identical academic/sociological connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, confined to academic and critical discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “cultural lag” in a Sentence
[Subject] experiences a cultural lag in [area]There is a cultural lag between [A] and [B]The cultural lag in [society/field] is evident.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cultural lag” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – not standardly used as a verb.
American English
- N/A – not standardly used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A – the term is a compound noun. One might say 'lag-related tensions'.
American English
- N/A – the term is a compound noun. One might say 'lag-induced problems'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in strategic reports about adopting new tech: 'The cultural lag in management practices is hindering our digital transformation.'
Academic
Primary context. Used in sociology, anthropology, and media studies to analyse social change: 'The study examines the cultural lag in privacy norms following the rise of social media.'
Everyday
Very rare. Might be paraphrased: 'Our laws haven't caught up with this new technology yet.'
Technical
Core context in sociology. Used precisely to describe the theory by William F. Ogburn.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cultural lag”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cultural lag”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cultural lag”
- Using it to mean any delay (e.g., 'a cultural lag in the project schedule').
- Confusing it with 'culture shock'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'Society cultural-lags').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The sociologist William Fielding Ogburn in his 1922 work 'Social Change with Respect to Culture and Original Nature'.
Within the theory, it is seen as a period of problematic maladjustment. However, the lag can allow for necessary deliberation about the implications of new technology.
Yes. The development of social media and data collection technologies far outpaced the development of privacy laws and digital etiquette, leading to widespread issues around data security and online behaviour.
'Cultural lag' is a sociological concept about societal-level adjustment. 'Future shock', coined by Alvin Toffler, is a psychological concept describing the stress and disorientation individuals feel when faced with too much change in too short a time.
The gap between the introduction of a new technology or innovation and the adjustment of a society's laws, customs, and values to accommodate it.
Cultural lag is usually formal, academic, sociological in register.
Cultural lag: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkʌltʃərəl ˈlæɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkʌltʃərəl ˈlæɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Society] is playing catch-up”
- “The law is behind the times”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CULTURE running a race but LAGging behind TECHNOLOGY. Culture is slower to finish (adapt).
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A MACHINE (that needs time to adjust); PROGRESS IS A RACE (where culture lags behind).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'cultural lag' primarily used?