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civilization definition

civi·li·za·tion (siv′ə lə zā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. the process of civilizing or becoming civilized
  2. the condition of being civilized; social organization of a high order, marked by the development and use of a written language and by advances in the arts and sciences, government, etc.
  3. the total culture of a particular people, nation, period, etc.
  4. the countries and peoples considered to have reached a high stage of social and cultural development
  5. intellectual and cultural refinement
  6. the amenities, esp. creature comforts of civilized life

Etymology: ML civilizatio

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

civilization Synonyms

civilization

n.

  1. Culture

    cultivation, polish, enlightenment, refinement, civility, illumination, advancement of knowledge, elevation, edification, national culture, state of refinement, level of education, advancement, progress, social well-being, degree of cultivation, material well-being, acculturation, Kultur (German), education, breeding; see also culture 2, 3, improvement 1.

    Antonyms barbarism, savagery, degeneration.

  2. The civilized world

    civilized life, the modern world, literate society, creature comforts, amenities, populated area, city.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

civilization Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • destroy: The great story of the Catastrophe that destroyed an ancient peaceful civilization had been handed down from father to son.

Adjective modifier

  • Western: Shortly speaking, the ideals for the new Ukraine are the ideals shared by the Western civilization.

Modifies a noun

  • captive: There is a we love to service staffs aboard american civilization captives.

Noun used with modifier

  • mayan: Connects them to offered between the mayan civilization dating.

Possessives

  • world: In China's views, the world's diverse civilizations are the shared heritage of humanity and an invaluable source of prosperity.

Preposition: in

  • world: But more importantly, why did the most advanced civilization in the world perish?

Preposition: of

  • love: Only in these ways can we develop a ' culture of life ' , a ' civilization of love ' .
civilization usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

civilization quotes

Os guerreiros de ca¤   na‹  o buscam mavo¤  rticas damas para o enlace epitala"  mico; mas antes as preferem do¤  ceis e facilmente troca¤ v eis por pequeninas e vola¤  teis folhas de papel a que o vulgo chamara¤   dinheiroöo 'curriculum vitae'da Civiliza c° a‹  o. The warriors here do not seek out mettlesome women for epithalamic conjunction, but prefer them docile and willing to exchange with ease their favours for those small and deliquescent leaves of paper which the masses call moneyöthe curriculum vitae of Civilization.

-Andrade, Ma¤ r io de

What is to prevent a daily newspaper from being made the greatest organ of social life? Books have had their dayöthe theatres have had their dayöthe temple of religion has had its day. A newspaper can be made to take the lead of all these in the great movements of human thought and of human civilisation. A newspaper can send more souls to Heaven, and save more from Hell, than all the churches or chapels in New Yorköbesides making money at the same time.

-Bennett,James Gordon, Snr

The desire not to be impinged upon, to be left to oneself, has been the markof high civilisation both on the part of individuals and communities.

-Berlin, Sir Isaiah

civilization quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"civilization." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/civilization>

APA Style

civilization. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/civilization

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