adj
Uncommon
civilized
SIHV-ih-lyzd
Civilized (adj) means having a well-developed society, culture, and institutions. Example: “The exhibit traces the rise of civilized societies in the region.”
adj
1
Having a well-developed society, culture, and institutions.
"The exhibit traces the rise of civilized societies in the region."
2
Polite, reasonable, and decent in behaviour.
"Let's discuss this in a civilized way instead of shouting."
How to use civilized
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "belonging to a developed society" or, more casually, "behaving decently and reasonably."
UK vs US
American spelling; British English typically writes "civilised."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more civilized
- Superlative
- most civilized
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The exhibit traces the rise of _____ societies in the region.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
noncivilized
Related words
Rhymes for civilized
sized
prized
baptized
utilized
notarized
polarized
idealized
organized
oversized
localized
motorized
mobilized
See all rhymes for civilized →
Frequently asked questions
What does “civilized” mean?
The word “civilized” means having a well-developed society, culture, and institutions. In plain terms, either "belonging to a developed society" or, more casually, "behaving decently and reasonably.".
How do you pronounce “civilized”?
“Civilized” is pronounced SIHV-ih-lyzd (/ˈsɪv.ɪ.laɪzd/ in IPA).
How do you use “civilized” in a sentence?
Here is “civilized” used in a sentence: “The exhibit traces the rise of civilized societies in the region.”
What part of speech is “civilized”?
“Civilized” is an adjective.
Is “civilized” a common word?
“Civilized” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “civilized” have?
“Civilized” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a well-developed society, culture, and institutions.
