Word
uncivilized
Phoneticsun·civ·i·lized, stress on the second syllable
/ənˈsɪvəɫaɪzd/
Definition
adj. not polite or well behaved by modern social rules. You use it for rude behaviour, or for a place that lacks modern towns, schools, and technology.
adj. lacking the social organization, technological development, or refined manners associated with modern societies. Often applied both to societies perceived as primitive and to individual behaviour considered crude or discourteous.
Examples
“Their table manners are uncivilized at dinner.”
“He calls the remote village uncivilized because it has no paved roads.”
“The essay argues that calling past cultures uncivilized says more about modern bias than about how those people actually lived.”
Examples
simple
“Their table manners are uncivilized at dinner.”
contextual
“He calls the remote village uncivilized because it has no paved roads.”
complex
“The essay argues that calling past cultures uncivilized says more about modern bias than about how those people actually lived.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “uncivilized” in context.
Verb
01. appear uncivilized
“To visitors, the crowded market might appear uncivilized.”
verb + adj
02. consider uncivilized
“Many consider smoking in restaurants uncivilized.”
verb + adj
03. deem uncivilized
“The committee deemed his outburst uncivilized and unprofessional.”
verb + adj
04. regard as uncivilized
“Eating on the metro is regarded as uncivilized by some commuters.”
verb + prep + adj
05. remain uncivilized
“Without investment in schools, the district will remain uncivilized.”
verb + adj
06. seem uncivilized
“The remote camp seemed uncivilized with no electricity or schools.”
verb + adj
Adjective
07. completely uncivilized
“He thought it was completely uncivilized to eat with his hands.”
adv + adj
08. frankly uncivilized
“Their treatment of newcomers was frankly uncivilized.”
adv + adj
09. relatively uncivilized
“Compared to the capital, the region seemed relatively uncivilized.”
adv + adj
10. dismiss a place as uncivilized
“It is unfair to dismiss a place as uncivilized just because it is rural.”
11. live in an uncivilized society
“He claimed they were forced to live in an uncivilized society.”
12. regard something as uncivilized
“Many locals regard littering in the park as uncivilized.”
Real-World Examples
“Both processes furthered the larger imperial project of impugning Native American nations as uncivilized and, thus, rhetorically legitimized their dispossession.” “This was not the impression they wished to convey; it was not the image of a great world power, but rather that of an "uncivilized" society.” Etymology
From un- + civilized.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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