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Webster 1913 Edition


Civilization

Civˊi-li-za′tion

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
civilisation
.]
1.
The act of civilizing, or the state of being civilized; national culture; refinement.
Our manners, our civilization, and all the good things connected with manners, and with
civilization
, have, in this European world of ours, depended for ages upon two principles – . . . the spirit of a gentleman, and spirit of religion.
Burke
2.
(Law)
Rendering a criminal process civil.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Civilization

CIVILIZATION

,
Noun.
[See Civilize.]
1.
The act of civilizing, or the state of being civilized; the state of being refined in manners, from the grossness of savage life and improved in arts and learning.
2.
The act of rendering a criminal process civil.

Definition 2024


civilization

civilization

English

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Alternative forms

Noun

civilization (plural civilizations)

  1. 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.
    the Aztec civilization
    Western civilization
    Modern civilization is a product of industrialization and globalization.
  2. (uncountable) Human society, particularly civil society.
    A hermit doesn't much care for civilization.
    I'm glad to be back in civilization after a day with that rowdy family.
  3. The act or process of civilizing or becoming civilized.
    The teacher's civilization of the child was no easy task.
  4. The state or quality of being civilized.
    He was a man of great civilization.
  5. (obsolete) The act of rendering a criminal process civil.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Proper noun

civilization

  1. Collectively, those people of the world considered to have a high standard of behavior and / or a high level of development. Commonly subjectively used by people of one society to exclusively refer to their society, or their elite sub-group, or a few associated societies, implying all others, in time or geography or status, as something less than civilised, as savages or barbarians. cf refinement, elitism, civilised society, the Civilised World

Translations