| Noun | 1. | civilisation - the social process whereby societies achieve civilizationsocial process - a process involved in the formation of groups of persons | |
| 2. | civilisation - a particular society at a particular time and place; "early Mayan civilization"society - an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization subculture - a social group within a national culture that has distinctive patterns of behavior and beliefs Western civilization, Western culture - the modern culture of western Europe and North America; "when Ghandi was asked what he thought of Western civilization he said he thought it would be a good idea" | |
| 3. | civilisation - a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations); "the people slowly progressed from barbarism to civilization"society - an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization | |
| 4. | civilisation - the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste; "a man of intellectual refinement"; "he is remembered for his generosity and civilization"excellence - the quality of excelling; possessing good qualities in high degree | |