so·ci·ety /səˈsajəti/ noun
plural so·ci·et·ies 1 [noncount] : people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values
▪ Poverty hurts society as a whole. 2 : the people of a particular country, area, time, etc., thought of especially as an organized community [count] ▪ ancient/modern societies ▪ Christian/consumer societies ▪ We need to do more to help the poorer members of our society. [noncount] ▪ the values of Western/American society ▪ wealthy/poor members of society ▪ These problems affect only a small segment of society. [=only a small number of people] ▪ That kind of behavior isn't allowed in polite society. [=among people of the middle and upper classes who speak and behave in a polite way] 3 [noncount] : people who are fashionable and wealthy
▪ She was introduced to society at a formal reception. ▪ The club's members are drawn from the ranks of high society. — often used before another noun ▪ society ladies/fashions/parties ▪ the newspaper's society page 4 [count] : a group of people who work together or regularly meet because of common interests, beliefs, or activities
▪ a literary/musical society ▪ historical societies ▪ The American Cancer Society ▪ The Society of Newspaper Editors 5 [noncount] formal : the state of being with other people
▪ He avoided the society [=company] of other writers.
▪ Poverty hurts society as a whole.
▪ She was introduced to society at a formal reception. ▪ The club's members are drawn from the ranks of high society. — often used before another noun ▪ society ladies/fashions/parties ▪ the newspaper's society page
▪ a literary/musical society ▪ historical societies ▪ The American Cancer Society ▪ The Society of Newspaper Editors
▪ He avoided the society [=company] of other writers.
