civilized

[siv-uh-lahyzd] /ˈsɪv əˌlaɪzd/

adjective

having an advanced or humane culture, society, etc.

polite; well-bred; refined.

of or pertaining to civilized people:

The civilized world must fight ignorance.

easy to manage or control; well organized or ordered:

The car is quiet and civilized, even in sharp turns.

Origin

1605-15; civilize + -ed²

Related forms

civilizedness

[siv-uh-lahy-zid-nis, -lahyzd] /ˈsɪv əˌlaɪ zɪd nɪs, -ˌlaɪzd/ (Show IPA), noun

half-civilized, adjective

hypercivilized, adjective

noncivilized, adjective

subcivilized, adjective

supercivilized, adjective

ultracivilized, adjective

well-civilized, adjective

civilize

[siv-uh-lahyz] /ˈsɪv əˌlaɪz/

verb (used with object), civilized, civilizing.

to bring out of a savage, uneducated, or rude state; make civil; elevate in social and private life; enlighten; refine:

Rome civilized the barbarians.

Also, especially British, civilise.

Origin

1595-1605; < French civiliser; see civil, -ize

Related forms

civilizable, adjective

civilizatory

[siv-uh-lahy-zuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˌsɪv əˈlaɪ zəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/ (Show IPA), adjective

civilizer, noun

decivilize, verb (used with object), decivilized, decivilizing.

noncivilizable, adjective

overcivilize, verb, overcivilized, overcivilizing.

uncivilizable, adjective

uncivilize, verb (used with object), uncivilized, uncivilizing.

Synonyms

educate, teach, instruct, polish, sophisticate.

Examples from the web for civilized

Surveys show that people who suffer road rage and airplane anxiety yearn for more civilized ways to travel.
Spending money you do not have does not make this a civilized country it makes you broke.
But more than that, it has no place in civilized society.
See a photographic expedition into the wild heart of a civilized continent.
The fact that you have had ongoing terror in this beautiful, civilized part of the world was fascinating to me.
The traditional answer is a hip flask filled with whisky, but feeding my monkey will be so much more civilized with this tiny cup.
civilized societies make sure that when people are in desperate need of help, the money is there to take care of them.
See wildlife photographers set a camera ambush that catches a wild adult tiger indulging in a rather civilized midday soak.
The health statistics of all civilized countries have improved greatly in the past century.
Then came the application of that knowledge, and a far, far better and more civilized world resulted.

British Dictionary definitions for civilized

civilized

/ˈsɪvɪˌlaɪzd/

adjective

having a high state of culture and social development

cultured; polite: a civilized discussion

civilize

/ˈsɪvɪˌlaɪz/

verb (transitive)

to bring out of savagery or barbarism into a state characteristic of civilization

to refine, educate, or enlighten

Derived Forms

civilizable, civilisable, adjective
civilizer, civiliser, noun

Word Origin and History for civilized

adj.

1610s, past participle adjective from civilize.

civilize

c.1600, "to bring out of barbarism," from French civiliser, verb from Old French civil (adj.), from Latin civilis "relating to a citizen, relating to public life, befitting a citizen; popular, affable, courteous" (see civil). Meaning "become civilized" is from 1868. Related: Civilized; civilizing.