societal
gb/səsˈaɪɪtəl/ us/səsˈaɪɪtəl/
C1
English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
relating to society as a whole
About the whole of a society, not just one person or a small group.
Usage pattern:
societal [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners often use "social" and "societal" as if they were completely the same. In many cases both are possible, but "social" is much more common in everyday speech and often refers to relationships between people (social life, social skills). "Societal" is more formal and is usually used for large, whole-society questions such as societal problems, societal change, or societal structures. Learners also sometimes say *"a societal"* by itself, but the word must modify a noun, as in "a societal problem" or "societal change."
Synonyms
social (More general and slightly less formal; often about relationships between people, while "societal" stresses the level of the whole society and its systems.)
Antonyms
individual (Describes something related to one person, contrasting with issues that concern society as a whole.)
Collocations
societal change
|societal norms
|societal problems
|societal expectations
|societal impact
|societal pressure
Themes
politics
|culture
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Climate change is one of the biggest societal challenges of our time.
- The report examines the societal effects of long-term unemployment.
- Her research focuses on societal attitudes toward mental health.
- Rapid technological advances can lead to major societal changes.
- They discussed the societal role of education in reducing inequality.
Learner examples
- The internet has caused big societal changes.
- This movie shows many societal problems in modern cities.
- Good schools are important for societal development.
- The law was made to answer a clear societal need.
- The book talks about societal views on family life.
Grammar
Dictionary form
societal
IPA
GB/səsˈaɪɪtəl/
US/səsˈaɪɪtəl/
Syllables & stress
so - ci - et - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ci)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: societal
Word family
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
antisocial
adjective
unsociable
adjective
Expressions
societal change
1/səsˈaɪɪtəl t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
formal
large change in society
Big and important change in how a whole society lives, thinks, or is organized.
Examples
- The rise of the internet has brought about rapid societal change.
- Major societal change often happens after long periods of pressure from citizens.
societal expectations
1/səsˈaɪɪtəl ˌɛkspɛktˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
formal
what society expects of people
The things that most people in a society think you should do or be.
Examples
- Societal expectations about gender roles are slowly changing.
- He chose a career that did not match societal expectations for someone from his background.
societal impact
1/səsˈaɪɪtəl ˈɪmpækt/
fixed phrase
formal
effect on society as a whole
The way something changes or influences the whole society.
Examples
- Researchers are studying the societal impact of artificial intelligence.
- The policy could have a huge societal impact if it is fully applied.
societal issues
1/səsˈaɪɪtəl ˈɪʃuz/
fixed phrase
formal
important questions for society
Important questions or difficulties that many people in a society care about.
Examples
- The candidates debated key societal issues such as healthcare and education.
- Her podcast explores societal issues from the view of young adults.
societal norms
1/səsˈaɪɪtəl nˈɔɹmz/
fixed phrase
formal
shared rules in a society
The usual and accepted ways of behaving in a society.
Examples
- Societal norms about marriage have changed a lot in recent decades.
- In many cultures, societal norms strongly influence how people dress.
societal pressure
1/səsˈaɪɪtəl pɹˈɛʃɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
pressure from society
The feeling that you must do something because society expects it.
Examples
- Many students feel societal pressure to go to university.
- Societal pressure can make people hide parts of their identity.
societal problems
1/səsˈaɪɪtəl pɹˈɑbləmz/
fixed phrase
formal
major problems in society
Big, serious problems that affect many people in a society.
Examples
- Poverty and discrimination are long-standing societal problems.
- The film highlights several societal problems that young people face today.