civilisation
UK: ˌsɪv.ɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən | US: ˌsɪv.ə.ləˈzeɪ.ʃən
n. an advanced stage of human social development and organization
n. the process by which a society reaches this stage
n. the culture and way of life of a particular society
civilisation = civil<citizen> + isation<noun suffix indicating process or state>
- civil (from Latin civilis, meaning "relating to a citizen")
- isation (a variant of -ization, derived from Greek -izein via Latin -izare, indicating "the act or process of")
Etymology Origin:
The word civilisation traces back to the Latin civilis, rooted in civis (citizen). It entered English via French in the 18th century, originally denoting the refinement of social norms. The suffix -isation (from Greek -izein) was added to signify "the process of becoming civilized." The term reflects the Enlightenment-era focus on societal progress and cultural advancement.
Ancient Egypt is often studied as one of the earliest cradles of civilisation.
The spread of agriculture was crucial to the development of civilisation.
Some argue that technology defines modern civilisation.
The museum exhibits artifacts from Mayan civilisation.
Environmental sustainability is a challenge for future civilisation.