society
B1Neutral to formal. Common in academic, journalistic, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A large group of people who live together in an organized way, sharing laws, traditions, and values.
1. The community of people living in a particular country or region, and their shared institutions and customs. 2. An organization or club formed for a particular purpose or activity. 3. The wealthy, fashionable, or influential members of a community (often 'high society'). 4. Companionship or association with others.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning shifts significantly based on context: from the broadest human collective to a specific club. The countable sense (a society) refers to an organized group, while the uncountable sense (society) refers to the general concept.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The term 'high society' is slightly more stereotypically associated with British class structure, but is common in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'society' can carry neutral, positive (e.g., a charitable society), or negative connotations (e.g., critiques of 'consumer society').
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
society + verb (evolves, functions, changes)adjective + society (pluralistic, democratic, feudal)society + of + noun (a society of artists)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pillar of society”
- “Move in high society”
- “A cross-section of society”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market or consumer society (e.g., 'the demands of modern society').
Academic
A central concept in sociology, history, and political science (e.g., 'post-industrial society').
Everyday
Used to talk about people in general and social rules (e.g., 'Society expects you to get a job.').
Technical
In biology, can refer to a colony of animals (e.g., 'ant society').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- societal pressures
- a societal shift
American English
- societal norms
- societal change
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We live in a big society.
- She joined the school's art society.
- Technology has changed modern society a lot.
- He is a respected member of the local historical society.
- The study aimed to analyse the impact of immigration on the host society.
- The scandal rocked the upper echelons of high society.
- The novel offers a searing critique of the atomisation of contemporary consumer society.
- Philanthropy plays a crucial role in the functioning of civil society.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SOCIETY as a SOCIAL entity where people are TIED together.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A FABRIC (the fabric of society), A BODY (the body politic), A BUILDING (pillars of society).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'society' as a direct translation for 'общественность' (better: 'the public'). 'Society' is broader than 'социум', which is a more academic term.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'society' as a countable noun when the uncountable is needed: 'He is a danger for the society' (incorrect) vs. '...a danger to society' (correct). Confusing 'society' with 'community' (which is smaller and more local).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses 'society' in the sense of 'an organized club'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. Uncountable when referring to people in general (e.g., 'role in society'). Countable when referring to an organized group (e.g., 'a scientific society').
'Society' is broader, often referring to a large, complex national or cultural group with shared institutions. 'Community' is smaller, focusing on a local group or people with a shared characteristic (e.g., 'the local community', 'the LGBTQ+ community').
It refers to wealthy, fashionable, and influential people, often with a focus on their social events and lifestyle.
It refers to the aggregate of non-governmental organizations and institutions that manifest interests and will of citizens, including charities, NGOs, community groups, etc.
Collections
Part of a collection
Cultural Topics
B2 · 47 words · Analyzing culture, society and identity.