Societal
səˈsaɪ.ə.təl
Definitions
Relating to or characteristic of human society or its members.
səˈsaɪ.ə.təl
Relating to a society or its members
Societal changes can be slow to take effect.
💡 Simply: When something is societal, it's about the way people in a community live and interact with each other. Like, how the rules and customs in your town affect how everyone behaves.
👶 For kids: It means something that has to do with people living together in a group, like a town or a country.
More Examples
The study examined the societal implications of technological advancements.
There is a societal expectation for young people to go to college.
Addressing societal inequality requires a multifaceted approach.
How It's Used
"Societal norms and values shape individual behavior."
"The societal impact of the new legislation was debated."
Synonyms
From Late Latin societas (society), + -al (suffix forming adjectives). The word developed in English to describe things relating to society.
The word 'societal' has been in use since the late 19th century, closely following the growth of sociology as a field.
Memory tip
Think of 'society' and add '-al' to make it about society itself.