Society refers to people living together in organised communities sharing laws, culture, and institutions; or to a formal organisation of people with a common interest or purpose. Language reflects the values and beliefs of the society that uses it.
What Does Society Mean?
Society comes from the Latin societas, meaning "fellowship" or "alliance", derived from socius — "companion" or "partner". It entered English via French société in the 16th century. The same root gives us social, associate, socialism, and sociology.
In everyday English, society most often refers to the entire community of people living under a shared set of laws and cultural norms — what we mean when we say "modern society" or "a fair society". It can also mean a specific formal organisation: a chess society, a law society, or a learned society such as the Royal Society.
Understanding which sense is intended is usually straightforward from context. When no article is used ("society must change"), the word refers to the abstract concept of organised human community. When an article is present ("a secretive society", "the society held its annual dinner"), a particular group is meant.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| My town has a small drama society that puts on plays every summer. | A2 — society as a club or organisation |
| Everyone in our society has the right to a good education. | B1 — society as a community; zero article |
| Language reflects the values and beliefs of the society that uses it. | B1 — specific society with definite article |
| Increasing inequality poses a serious threat to the stability of modern society. | B2 — academic/journalistic register; zero article |
| Civil society organisations played a decisive role in shaping post-war democratic institutions. | C1 — formal register; collocation "civil society" |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| modern society | Social media has transformed the way people communicate in modern society. |
| civil society | Civil society groups campaigned for greater transparency in government. |
| multicultural society | Britain is an increasingly multicultural society. |
| society as a whole | Pollution affects society as a whole, not just those who cause it. |
| a threat to society | Some argue that extreme inequality is a threat to society. |
| benefit society | Volunteers contribute time and skills to benefit society. |
| high society | The novel satirises the rituals of high society in Victorian England. |
| secret society | He was rumoured to belong to a secret society with influential members. |
| consumer society | We live in a consumer society where buying is seen as a social activity. |
| contribute to society | Education enables individuals to contribute to society more effectively. |
Usage Notes
Article Use with Society
Zero article — use when referring to the abstract concept of organised human community: Society has changed dramatically over the past century.
Indefinite article (a/an) — use when referring to one particular community or organisation: Finland is often described as a very equal society.
Definite article (the) — use when referring to a previously identified society or a unique one: The society was founded in 1820.
Note: societal is a formal adjective used in academic writing ("societal change", "societal norms"). In everyday speech, prefer social.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
The society must do more to help homeless people.
Society must do more to help homeless people. (no article when referring to society in general)
She joined to the history society at university.
She joined the history society at university. (join takes a direct object — no preposition needed)
It is a big problem of our society.
It is a big problem in our society. (use "in society" or "in our society", not "of")