English · Word Candidate

civilization

/ˌsɪv.ɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: civilizations

Sense 1

Meaning · English

An organized culture encompassing many communities, often on the scale of a nation or a people; a stage or system of social, political, or technical development.

Noun

Examples

the Aztec civilization

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Human society, particularly civil society.

Noun

Examples

A hermit doesn't much care for civilization.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “civilization” mean?

An organized culture encompassing many communities, often on the scale of a nation or a people; a stage or system of social, political, or technical development.

Is “civilization” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.