The meaning of CIVILIZED is characteristic of a state of civilization; especially : characterized by taste, refinement, or restraint. How to use civilized in a sentence.

Definition of civilized adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

civilized adjective (POLITE) If a person or their behavior is civilized, they are polite and behave in a calm and reasonable way:

1. Having a highly developed society and culture. 2. Showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement; humane, ethical, and reasonable: terrorist acts that shocked the civilized world. 3. …

If you describe a person or their behaviour as civilized, you mean that they are polite and reasonable. I wrote to my ex-wife. She was very civilised about it.

CIVILIZED definition: having an advanced or humane culture, society, etc. See examples of civilized used in a sentence.

civilized, adj. & n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

Feb 21, 2026 · Adjective civilized (comparative more civilized, superlative most civilized) Having a highly developed society or culture; belonging to civilization.

Civilized is an adjective that describes the very opposite of barbarity. A civilized person is polite and courteous; he knows how to say "please" and "thank you."

civ•i•lize /ˈsɪvəˌlaɪz/ v. [~ + object], -lized, -liz•ing. to bring out of a backward or uneducated state; make enlightened or refined: Rome civilized the barbarians.