civilization

/ˌsɪvəlaɪˈzeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌsɪvələˈzeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌsi-və-lə-ˈzā-shən/ (ame, mw)

civilization — noun

  • civilizationsingular
  • civilizationsplural

1. A stage of human development in which people live in organized communities with

1.名詞B2
釋義

A stage of human development in which people live in organized communities with complex systems of government, law, and culture; also, the specific traditions, art, and daily practices that belong to a particular society or historical era.

例句

Ravi's class project compared the farming methods of two ancient civilizations in South America.

countable: a particular civilization

The clay pots found near the river gave archaeologists clues about a lost civilization.

同義詞
  • society

    A broader term for any group of people living together; civilization implies a higher level of organisation and development.

  • culture

    Focuses on the arts, beliefs, and customs rather than the full social and political structure.

  • community

    Describes a smaller group; does not carry the same sense of large-scale development.

反義詞
  • primitive society

    A society at an early stage of development, without complex institutions.

用法筆記

Countable use ("an ancient civilization") refers to a specific society with its own culture. Uncountable use ("modern civilization") refers to the general state of being socially and technologically developed.

常見錯誤

❌India has a very old culture and civilization.
✅India has a very old culture and civilisation.
💡In British English, spell with 's' not 'z' (civilisation). Both spellings are correct in US English.
❌Ancient Egypt had a very advanced society.' (when meaning civilization)
✅Ancient Egypt was a highly advanced civilization.
💡Both 'society' and 'civilization' work, but 'civilization' specifically emphasises the level of cultural and technological development.

2. A place or situation where people enjoy modern conveniences such as electricity,

2.名詞C1
釋義

A place or situation where people enjoy modern conveniences such as electricity, running water, and reliable services — often used humorously when returning to a populated area after time in a remote or basic setting.

例句

After three weeks of camping in the desert, the small hotel felt like civilization again.

informal/humorous: 'felt like civilization'

The hikers cheered when the village with hot showers finally felt like civilization.

informal: 'felt like civilization' after a remote trip

同義詞
  • modern life

    More neutral; lacks the humorous tone of this sense of 'civilization'.

  • comforts of home

    A phrase that captures the same idea of returning to familiar amenities.

反義詞
  • wilderness

    An area without modern facilities or human development.

  • the wild

    Informal term for a place without any modern amenities.

用法筆記

This sense is almost always uncountable and used in a light-hearted or ironic tone. It typically contrasts a basic environment (camping, remote village, power outage) with the familiar comforts of urban life. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 does NOT refer to a specific historical society; it refers broadly to 'the comfortable modern way of life.'

常見錯誤

❌I am studying the civilization of ancient Rome.' (when meaning the historical society)
✅I am studying the civilization of ancient Rome.
💡This is sense 1, not sense 2. Sense 2 only describes modern comfort, never a historical society.

3. The gradual process by which a group of people develops more advanced social str

3.名詞C1
釋義

The gradual process by which a group of people develops more advanced social structures, systems of knowledge, and cultural institutions over time.

例句

The civilization of the region's early tribes took place over many centuries.

uncountable: process of civilizing

Scholars debate whether civilization always improves people's lives or sometimes destroys older traditions.

同義詞
  • development

    Broader term that can apply to economic, social, or personal growth without the cultural focus.

  • advancement

    Focuses on progress and improvement, often in technology or knowledge.

  • enlightenment

    Historically associated with the 18th-century intellectual movement; narrower in scope.

反義詞
  • decline

    The opposite of progress or advancement.

  • barbarism

    Historically used as the opposite of civilization, though now considered dated and judgemental.

用法筆記

This sense is always uncountable and typically used with 'the civilization of + [region/people]'. It is more formal and academic than senses 1 and 2. It describes a historical process, not a current state or a humorous contrast.