[suh-sahy-i-tee] 
noun, plural -ties, adjective | 1. | an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. |
| 2. | a body of individuals living as members of a community; community. |
| 3. | the body of human beings generally, associated or viewed as members of a community: the evolution of human society. |
| 4. | a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members: American society. |
| 5. | such a system characterized by its dominant economic class or form: middle-class society; industrial society. |
| 6. | those with whom one has companionship. |
| 7. | companionship; company: to enjoy one's society. |
| 8. | the social life of wealthy, prominent, or fashionable persons. |
| 9. | the social class that comprises such persons. |
| 10. | the condition of those living in companionship with others, or in a community, rather than in isolation. |
| 11. | Biology. a closely integrated group of social organisms of the same species exhibiting division of labor. |
| 12. | Ecclesiastical. an ecclesiastical society. |
| 13. | of, pertaining to, or characteristic of elegant society: a society photographer. |
| so·ci·e·ty (sə-sī'ĭ-tē) n. pl. so·ci·e·ties
[French société, from Old French, from Latin societās, fellowship, from socius, companion; see sekw-1 in Indo-European roots.] |
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