society

/səˈsaɪəti/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈsaɪəti/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈsī-ə-tē/ (ame, mw)

society — noun

  • societysingular
  • societiesplural

1. All the inhabitants of a country or region, considered as an organised whole wit

1.名詞B1
釋義

All the inhabitants of a country or region, considered as an organised whole with shared laws, customs, and institutions. Without an article, the word refers to people in general; with an article such as "a" or "the", it picks out one specific population.

例句

Maeve's town organised free meals for seniors and kids after the factory closed — society at its best.

collocation: society at its best

In many traditional societies, the eldest son inherits the family land.

countable: a particular society / traditional societies

同義詞
  • community

    Smaller and more local than society; focuses on people living in one place or sharing a particular identity

  • civilization

    Emphasises the level of cultural and technological development, not just organisation

  • the public

    Refers to ordinary people rather than the whole organised group; contrasts with private or official spheres

文法句型

society + verb

in + society

a + adjective + society

用法筆記

Uncountable when referring to people in general ("society as a whole"). Countable when pointing to a specific group ("an industrial society", "Japanese society"). The definite article is commonly used with modifiers: "the society we live in."

常見錯誤

❌Society needs to do something about the pollution.' (vague reference).
✅Our society needs to do more about the pollution.
💡Adding a determiner makes the reference clearer and more natural.
❌The society changes very slowly.' (overgeneralised article).
✅Society changes very slowly.
💡Use no article when referring to people in general.

2. The group of wealthy, powerful, and fashionable people who attend exclusive soci

2.名詞B2
釋義

The group of wealthy, powerful, and fashionable people who attend exclusive social events and whose activities are often covered by the media.

例句

The charity ball was one of the most important events in New York society.

pattern: in [city] society

Magazines like to print photos of society women at parties and holiday resorts.

attributive noun: society women

同義詞
  • the elite

    More general — can refer to wealth, power, or talent, not specifically fashion and social events

  • the upper class

    Emphasises inherited wealth and social rank rather than fashionable lifestyle

  • high society

    The most common fixed expression for this sense, less formal than 'society' alone

文法句型

high society

in society

society + noun

用法筆記

Often preceded by a city or place name ("Boston society", "Paris society"). The phrase "high society" is the most common form of this sense. Frequently used as an attributive noun before another noun ("society wedding", "society hostess").

常見錯誤

❌She belongs to the local historical society.' (meaning an organisation).
✅She belongs to high society.
💡For this sense, use "high society" or "polite society," not "a society."

3. The experience or condition of being together with other people, especially when

3.名詞B1
釋義

The experience or condition of being together with other people, especially when this is pleasant and gives a feeling of belonging.

例句

After retiring, Felix missed the society of his former colleagues.

pattern: the society of [people]

Yael enjoys the society of people who share her passion for hiking.

同義詞
  • company

    Less formal; the common choice in everyday conversation ("keep me company", "good company")

  • companionship

    More emotional than society; suggests a closer, warmer relationship

  • fellowship

    Suggests shared aims or values, often in religious or academic contexts

反義詞
  • loneliness

    The opposite feeling of being without others

  • isolation

    A physical state of being separated from others

文法句型

the society of + noun phrase

the society of + someone

用法筆記

This sense is more formal than everyday alternatives like "company" or "being with." It almost always appears in the pattern "the society of [someone]." Typical verbs used with this sense include "enjoy," "crave," "miss," "seek," and "avoid."

常見錯誤

❌I enjoy your society.' (too formal for everyday speech).
✅I enjoy your company.
💡Use "company" instead in informal conversation; "society" in this sense is reserved for more formal or literary contexts.

4. Any organised body whose members pursue a common interest, hobby, or goal throug

4.名詞B1
釋義

Any organised body whose members pursue a common interest, hobby, or goal through regular meetings or activities.

例句

Aaron joined the university debating society to improve his public speaking skills.

collocation: debating society

The local historical society organises guided tours of old buildings every weekend.

同義詞
  • club

    Less formal; often used for social or sports groups rather than academic or charitable ones

  • association

    More formal; often used for professional or trade organisations

  • organisation

    The broadest term; covers societies, clubs, charities, and companies alike

文法句型

a/an + adjective + society

the + subject + society

[interest] + society

用法筆記

Used in the names of many organisations ("the Royal Society," "the American Cancer Society"). The noun describing the interest or field usually comes before "society" ("history society", "film society", "music society"). Unlike sense 1, this sense is always countable and takes an article.

常見錯誤

❌I joined society at university.' (missing article, confusing with sense 1).
✅I joined a society at university.
💡This sense requires an article or determiner.
❌The debating society meets every society.' (repeating the headword).
✅The debating society meets every Tuesday.
💡Do not confuse the organisation name with the word 'society' used in another sense.

society — adjective