society */*/*/

UK [səˈsaɪətɪ] / US noun
Word forms "society":
singular society plural societies

1) [uncountable] people in general living together in organized communities, with laws and traditions controlling the way that they behave towards one another

Society has to be prepared to support its elderly people.

The scheme aims to encourage the reintegration of prisoners into society.

a) [countable] the people who live in a particular country or area, or who belong to a particular time

The protesters were drawn from a broad cross section of society.

Good writing still has a place in contemporary society.

The novels reflect the values of Victorian society.

b) [countable/uncountable] a particular type or section of society

The question is whether we have sufficient resources to sustain an industrial society.

Never forget that we live in a multicultural society.

affluent society (= a society in which many people are rich):

In today's affluent society people are becoming increasingly discontented.

See:

polite society

2)

a) the group of people in a country who are rich and fashionable or are from a high social class

b) [only before noun] relating to the parties, weddings, performances etc that rich and fashionable people go to

This is going to be the biggest society wedding of the year.

3) [countable] an organization or club for people who have a particular interest or who take part in a particular activity

She joined the local history society and made some new friends.

See:

building society

4) [uncountable] mainly literary the company or friendship of other people