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Definition of societal

societal

/səˈsaɪ.ə.təl/
so · ci · e · tal
Adverb:societally
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societal Lexical Profile

societal Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Relating to society, or to the way society is organized and structured.

Example

"Rapid technological advancements often bring about profound societal changes."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for societal
Antonyms
View all antonyms for societal

Word Nuance & Usage

While often used interchangeably with 'social', 'societal' specifically refers to the large-scale structures, norms, and institutions of a society as a whole (e.g., 'societal pressures'), whereas 'social' also applies to interpersonal interactions and companionship (e.g., 'social gatherings').

• Rhymes for societal

• Nearby Words

socializer
socially
socials
societal
societally
society
society garlic

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 19th century from the noun 'society' plus the suffix '-al', which ultimately traces back through Old French to the Latin 'societas' (fellowship, alliance), from 'socius' (companion, ally).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Societal. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/societal
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