Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

civilisation

/ˌsɪv.ɪ.lɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.37 in modern English

Syllables: civil-i-sa-tion
IPA: /ˌsɪv.ɪ.lɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

17

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Commonwealth spelling of civilization.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"From Keighley onwards we had obviously returned to civilisation, for the surrounding country was now studded with the sodium street lights of suburbia and a thickening industrial haze was blotting out the moon."
"It is also there in Miller’s worldview, which has long promoted racist fears of demographic replacement of white people and civilisation decline."

Etymology

Borrowed from French civilisation, equivalent to civilise + -ation or civil + -isation.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌsɪv.ɪ.lɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
British English: /ˌsɪv.ɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

Usage

Inflected Forms

civilisations (plural)

Derived Forms

civilisational incivilisation uncivilisation

Synonyms

refinement civilization culture

Rhymes With

information education situation population station association administration operation organization head station nation location

Questions

How do you pronounce civilisation?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌsɪv.ɪ.lɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/.
What does civilisation mean?: UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Commonwealth spelling of civilization.
Where does civilisation come from?: Borrowed from French civilisation, equivalent to civilise + -ation or civil + -isation.

How to pronounce civilisation

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “civilisation”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌsɪv.ɪ.lɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “civilisation”.
Repeat and practice — Say “civilisation” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.