What does civilization mean?
Civilization refers to a complex human society that has developed cities, organized government, social classes, writing, and specialized labor — features that distinguish it from smaller or simpler forms of social organization. Familiar examples include ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Maya, and imperial China. The word also has broader uses: it can denote humanity's collective level of advancement, or more casually, the comforts and conveniences of modern life, as when someone longs to return to civilization after time in the wilderness. Derived from the Latin 'civis' (citizen), the term entered English in the eighteenth century during the Enlightenment, when thinkers used it to describe society's progress from supposedly 'primitive' conditions toward refined order. Because of this history, the word can carry connotations of superiority or progress, and historians today often prefer the neutral plural 'civilizations' when comparing societies. Its adjective form is 'civilizational', and related words include 'civilize', 'civic', and 'civilian'.
An advanced state of human society marked by cities, organized government, writing, and complex institutions; a particular society having these characteristics.
"Ancient Rome was one of the most influential civilizations in Western history."
In the countable sense, 'civilization' usually takes the definite article or a modifier: 'Roman civilization', 'the Maya civilization'.
The condition of being civilized; the comforts and refinements of organized social life.
"After two weeks in the mountains, hot showers felt like true civilization."
This sense is typically uncountable and often appears without an article.
Used when referring to multiple distinct societies, either across regions or across historical periods.
"Scholars compare the world's early civilizations to understand how cities first emerged."
The word 'civilization' didn't exist until the mid-18th century — for most of history, people lived their entire lives without ever needing a word for what we now take for granted.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of civilization
Civilization derives from the Latin noun 'civitas' (city-state, citizenship) and ultimately from 'civis', meaning citizen. The word entered English in the mid-eighteenth century, coined in French ('civilisation') during the Enlightenment and adopted into English shortly afterward, initially meaning the act of civilizing or bringing under law and order. By the late eighteenth century it had broadened to mean the achieved state of advanced society. It shares its root with 'civic', 'civil', 'civilian', and 'civilize', all tracing back to the same Latin source concerning city life and citizenship.
Related word forms
How civilization is actually used
The plural 'civilizations' typically refers to distinct historical societies, while the uncountable singular often refers to civilized conditions or human advancement as a whole. The word carries positive connotations of progress and refinement, though postcolonial scholarship has scrutinized its historical use to rank societies. In everyday informal speech, 'back to civilization' playfully means returning to places with modern conveniences after time in remote areas. British spelling is 'civilisation'.
Easily confused with civilization
'Civilisation' is simply the British spelling of the same word, while 'civilization' is the American spelling — they are not different words.