societal

adjective

so·​ci·​e·​tal sə-ˈsī-ə-tᵊl How to pronounce societal (audio)
: of or relating to society : social
societal forces
societally
sə-ˈsī-ə-tᵊl-ē How to pronounce societal (audio)
adverb

Examples of societal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the eleventh-hour blitz of No On 3 ads that Keep Florida Clean funded, warning of the greed of Big Weed, inflamed voters’ private worries of societal decay. — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 These bog bodies tell stories of a time when humans were sacrificed to the gods in bogs, as otherworldly margins between the human and divine realms, or when social outcasts met a cruel, violent end for failing to conform to societal standards. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 His household becomes a microcosm of a broader societal moral decay, fuelled by detachment, indifference, corruption, complacency and the pursuit of comfort. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 Many factors contribute to this, including better screening and awareness of kids’ mental health problems, as well as societal disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. — Ari Lightman, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for societal

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of societal was in 1890

Phrases Containing societal

Rhymes for societal

See All Rhymes for societal

Browse Nearby Words

sociétaire
societal
societary
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Societal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/societal. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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