What does civilised mean?
"Civilised" is an adjective describing something that has reached an advanced stage of social and cultural development — a society with laws, institutions, arts, and ordered public life. By extension, it describes personal conduct that is polite, reasonable, and refined: settling an argument civilisedly rather than by shouting, or meeting at a civilised hour rather than dawn. The word carries strong connotations of progress and decency, though modern usage often questions who gets labelled civilised and who does not, making it as much a word of debate as of praise. It is chiefly spelled with an "-ised" ending in British English, while American English writes it "civilized." Derived from the Latin "civilis," relating to a citizen, it sits in a family that includes "civil," "civility," and "citizen," all rooted in the idea of life within a city or community.
adjectiveHaving reached an advanced stage of social and cultural development; polite, reasonable, or refined in manner.
- (Of a society, place, or people) at an advanced stage of social and cultural development, with organised institutions and law.
- (Of behaviour or a person) polite, reasonable, and showing good manners; not savage or brutish.
"A truly civilised society looks after its most vulnerable members."
"The Romans brought roads, laws, and baths to what they considered the edge of the civilised world."
"Let's settle this like civilised adults and discuss it over coffee."
That final "-ised" is the British fingerprint: American English spells it "civilized," one of thousands of words split by the Atlantic.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of civilised
"Civilised" derives from the Latin "civilis," meaning relating to a citizen, which itself comes from "civis," citizen — originally tied to city life. It entered English via the verb "civilise," attested from around the early 17th century, during an era when Europeans spoke of bringing order and refinement to other peoples. Its cognates include "civil," "civility," "civic," and "citizen," all descending from the same Latin root about communal, urban life.
Related word forms
How civilised is actually used
Primarily British spelling; US English uses "civilized." The second sense (polite/reasonable) is often used slightly informally or humorously, as in "a civilised hour" meaning a reasonably late, humane time.
Easily confused with civilised
"Civil" means merely polite or courteous in everyday interaction, while "civilised" describes a broader state of social refinement or cultural advancement.