civilization
noun
civ·i·li·za·tion
ˌsi-və-lə-ˈzā-shən 
1
a
: a relatively high level of cultural and technological development
specifically
: the stage of cultural development at which writing and the keeping of written records is attained
b
: the beliefs, customs, arts, etc. characteristic of a particular time or place : culture entry 1 sense 1a
the impact of European civilization on the lands they colonized
also, plural civilizations
: a well-organized and developed society : culture entry 1 sense 1b
ancient/modern civilizations
a history of Mayan/Babylonian/Chinese civilization
2
: the process of becoming civilized
civilization is a slow process with many failures and setbacks
3
a
: refinement of thought, manners, or taste
exhibiting a high level of civilization
b
: a situation of urban comfort
Our camping trip was quite interesting, but it was great to get back to civilization.
Examples of civilization in a Sentence
the impact of technical advancements on civilization
We are studying ancient Greek civilization.
a book about life on the planet after wars have destroyed civilization
Recent Examples on the Web
This complex of Mayan vestiges serves as a testament to the mysterious and unexplainable engineering feats of this ancient civilization.
—
Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
May 5 The king of the comedic rant, Jerry Seinfeld, is back with plenty of ammo about the joys of parenting, husbandry and calamitous current events — three separate topics that will demonstrate just how far civilization has gone down the tubes.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
But seeking validation has been around as long as civilization itself.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
And so there’s a near infinite way of telling the story of human civilization through the prism of drugs.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civilization
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Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
May 5 The king of the comedic rant, Jerry Seinfeld, is back with plenty of ammo about the joys of parenting, husbandry and calamitous current events — three separate topics that will demonstrate just how far civilization has gone down the tubes.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
But seeking validation has been around as long as civilization itself.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
And so there’s a near infinite way of telling the story of human civilization through the prism of drugs.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civilization
Cite this Entry
“Civilization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilization. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
civilization
noun
civ·i·li·za·tion
ˌsiv-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən
1
a
: a high level (as in art, science, and government) of social development
b
: the way of life of a people
ancient Egyptian civilization
2
: the series of changes involved in becoming civilized
3
: refinement of thought, manners, or taste
4
: a situation of urban comfort
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