uncivilised

IPA/ʌnˈsɪv.əl.aɪzd/
IPA/ʌnˈsɪv.əl.aɪzd/

uncivilised — adjective

  • uncivilisedpositive
  • more uncivilisedcomparative
  • most uncivilisedsuperlative

1. not showing the qualities that people in a fair, orderly, and peaceful society e

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

not showing the qualities that people in a fair, orderly, and peaceful society expect, such as kindness, respect, or basic human care.

Example

Anjali found the conditions in the prison camp completely uncivilised and deeply shocking.

collocation: completely uncivilised

It is uncivilised to shout at someone simply because you disagree with their opinion.

pattern: It is uncivilised to + verb

Common collocations
  • uncivilised behaviour
  • uncivilised treatment
  • uncivilised conditions
  • uncivilised practice
  • completely uncivilised
  • utterly uncivilised
  • totally uncivilised
Synonyms
  • barbaric

    stronger, emphasising extreme cruelty rather than lack of development

  • primitive

    focuses on lack of modern development rather than moral judgement

  • savage

    more violent and aggressive in tone; also offensive when applied to people

  • crude

    focuses on lack of refinement or manners, not on cruelty

Antonyms
  • civilised

    the direct opposite, describing a society or person with the expected qualities

  • refined

    focuses on good manners and education rather than societal development

Grammar Patterns

uncivilised + noun

be + uncivilised

Usage Note

Describing an entire group or culture as uncivilised is considered offensive, as it implies a judgement that one way of life is superior to another. It is safer to use the word for specific actions, conditions, or behaviour rather than for people themselves.

Common Mistakes

He was uncivilised when he didn't say thank you.
He was uncivil when he didn't say thank you.
'uncivil' means simply impolite; 'uncivilised' is much stronger and implies cruelty or lack of basic decency.
The room was uncivilised because nobody cleaned it.
The room was a mess because nobody cleaned it.
'uncivilised' applies to conditions that lack basic human necessities (water, shelter, safety), not just untidiness.

Word family

  • civilised
    adjectiveB2
  • civilise
    verbB2
  • civilisation
    nounB2
  • civil
    adjectiveB1
  • civility
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that falls short of civilised standards, but they differ in scope. 'Barbaric' focuses on extreme cruelty or brutality — torturing prisoners is barbaric, not just uncivilised. 'Primitive' is the least moral of the group; it describes a lack of modern technology or development without necessarily condemning the people involved ('primitive tools', 'primitive living conditions'). 'Savage' carries the strongest violent connotation and, like 'uncivilised', can be offensive when applied to a group of people. 'Crude' is the mildest — it describes a lack of refinement or polish ('crude manners', 'crude jokes') rather than a lack of basic decency. If you are criticising a specific action, 'uncivilised' is a safer choice than 'barbaric' or 'savage'. If you mean 'not modern' with no moral judgement, use 'primitive' instead.

barbaric ↗primitive ↗savage ↗crude ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the negative prefix 'un-' to 'civilised'. The word 'civilised' comes from French 'civilisé', which traces back to Latin 'civilis', meaning 'relating to citizens or public life'. The idea of being 'civilised' originally referred to people living in an organised city community, as opposed to rural or tribal life.