Civilisation Meaning
/ˌsɪv.ɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounUK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Commonwealth spelling of civilization.
Sentence Examples
We discovered relics of an ancient civilisation.
The Mayans built a great civilisation in Central America.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ancient ____ built massive pyramids and developed a writing system.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Historians study the rise and fall of ancient ____ throughout time.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from French civilisation, equivalent to civilise + -ation or civil + -isation.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"From Keighley onwards we had obviously returned to civilisation, for the surrounding country was now studded with the sodium street lights of suburbia and a thickening industrial haze was blotting out the moon."
— 1960 January, G. Freeman Allen, “"Condor"—British Railways' fastest freight train”, in Trains Illustrated, page 48:
"It is also there in Miller’s worldview, which has long promoted racist fears of demographic replacement of white people and civilisation decline."
— 2026 January 21, David Smith, “Trump paints himself as great white hope in racism-drenched Davos speech”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 27 Feb 2026:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ancient ____ built massive pyramids and developed a writing system.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Historians study the rise and fall of ancient ____ throughout time.