Synonyms

societal

American

[suh-sahy-i-tl] / səˈsaɪ ɪ tl /

adjective

noting or pertaining to large social groups, or to their activities, customs, etc.

societal British

/ səˈsaɪətəl /

adjective

of or relating to society, esp human society or social relations

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

antisocietal adjective
antisocietally adverb
intersocietal adjective
nonsocietal adjective
societally adverb

Etymology

Origin of societal

First recorded in 1895–1900; societ(y) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bradshaw added racism and sectarianism are "two sides of the same coin" in that it is a societal issue that needs to be tackled.

From BBC

If a societal breakdown is what worries you then gold has some unique appeal, along with canned food and ammunition.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the structural and societal shift runs much deeper.

From The Wall Street Journal

What happened in South Korea, he adds, "shows that democratic erosion is not inevitable and that institutions can successfully constrain authoritarian ambitions... when institutional and societal actors are willing to act".

From BBC

"It's hard to get to societal roots of our problems. But this innovation represents a chance to reduce amputations, improve quality of life, and give the body what it needs to heal itself."

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023