Civilize: meaning, definitions and examples
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civilize
[ ˈsɪv.əl.aɪz ]
cultural development
To civilize is to improve a society in terms of culture, law, and social structures. It often means to bring people to a more advanced state of social and cultural development. The term is frequently used in the context of progress and development in human history.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The mission was to civilize the indigenous populations.
- Efforts were made to civilize the rural areas.
- Education plays a key role in civilizing societies.
- The government's initiative aimed to civilize the urban environment.
Translations
Translations of the word "civilize" in other languages:
🇵🇹 civilizar
🇮🇳 सभ्य बनाना
🇩🇪 zivilisieren
🇮🇩 peradaban
🇺🇦 цивілізувати
🇵🇱 ucywilizować
🇯🇵 文明化する
🇫🇷 civiliser
🇪🇸 civilizar
🇹🇷 medenileştirmek
🇰🇷 문명화하다
🇸🇦 تحضر
🇨🇿 civilizovat
🇸🇰 civilizovať
🇨🇳 使文明化
🇸🇮 civilizirati
🇮🇸 menningar
🇰🇿 цивилизациялау
🇬🇪 ცივილიზება
🇦🇿 mədəniyyətləşdirmək
🇲🇽 civilizar
Word origin
The word 'civilize' comes from the Latin 'civilis', meaning 'pertaining to a citizen', which is derived from 'civis', meaning 'citizen'. The root of the word reflects the values and customs of civic life and the importance of citizenship in a structured society. The term entered the English language in the late 17th century and was influenced by the Enlightenment period, during which ideas of progress, reason, and a civilized society began to take hold. In historical contexts, to 'civilize' often referred to the imposition of European cultural norms on non-European societies, reflecting colonial attitudes of the time. Today, while still retaining its original meaning, the word has evolved to encompass a wider array of contexts involving social improvement and cultural evolution.