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 culture characteristic of a particular time or place
the impact of European civilization on the lands they colonized
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 African safari 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
Education in the earliest civilizations Institute of Neijing Research.
—
Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2024
Funders are often reluctant to invest in lidar surveys in areas where there is no visible evidence of Mayan settlement, despite the fact that this civilization reached its peak between 250 and 900 AD.
—Anna Lagos, WIRED, 30 Oct. 2024
One way to look at civilization is progress on the Kardashev scale ...
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2024
But this isn’t how civilizations or humans respond to political chaos.
—Meg Little Reilly, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for civilization 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2024
Funders are often reluctant to invest in lidar surveys in areas where there is no visible evidence of Mayan settlement, despite the fact that this civilization reached its peak between 250 and 900 AD.
—Anna Lagos, WIRED, 30 Oct. 2024
One way to look at civilization is progress on the Kardashev scale ...
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2024
But this isn’t how civilizations or humans respond to political chaos.
—Meg Little Reilly, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for civilization
Dictionary Entries Near civilization
Cite this Entry
“Civilization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilization. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
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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