# society

Pronunciation: say "suh-SY-uh-tee" /səˈsaɪ.ə.ti/

## Noun

1. People in general, considered as a whole and as living together in an organized community.
   - Simple: All the people who live together in a country or community, seen as one big group.
   - _Many argue that society as a whole benefits when education is free._
   - _These reforms aim to make society fairer for everyone._
2. An organized group of people who join together for a shared interest or purpose, such as a club or association.
   - Simple: A group of people who join together because they share an interest or want to work toward the same goal.
   - _The local historical society organizes lectures throughout the year._
   - _Members of the choral society rehearse twice a week._
3. A long-standing group of people who share cultural features such as language, dress, behavior, and artistic traditions.
   - Simple: A large, long-lasting group of people who share a way of life, such as their customs, language, and art.
   - _Japanese society places great value on politeness and respect for elders._
   - _Anthropologists study how different societies organize family and work life._
4. The most fashionable and wealthy people of a community, regarded as a social class.
   - Simple: Rich and fashionable people, thought of together as a single social group.
   - _Her debut ball marked her formal entrance into society._
   - _The painter became a favorite of society, capturing the wealthy elite in portraits._
5. Companionship with other people, or the condition of being in their company as a friend or companion.
   - Simple: Being with other people as a friend, or the company they give you.
   - _He had grown so used to solitude that he no longer sought the society of others._
   - _Through the long winter evenings, the widow took comfort in the society of a few close neighbors._

## Origin

This word came into English around the 1530s from Middle and Old French "societé," which came from Latin "societas" ("fellowship, association, alliance, community"). That in turn came from "socius" ("partner, companion, ally"), traced back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "companion," from a root meaning "to follow."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/society (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).