civilized

/ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/

/ˈsɪvɪlaɪzd/

Someone who is cultured and polite — who knows to put his dinner napkin on his lap — is civilized. So could you please behave in a civilized manner and get your feet off the dinner table?

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." A civilized group of people is characterized by being socially and technologically advanced. Both dinner parties and fancy computer gadgets are signs of a civilized people. That friend of yours who likes to show people how he can belch the entire alphabet? Maybe not.

Definitions of civilized

1. adjective

   having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
   “terrorist acts that shocked the civilized world”

   synonyms: civilised

   advanced

   (of societies) highly developed especially in technology or industry

   civil

   of or in a condition of social order

   humane

   showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement

   educated

   possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)

   refined

   (used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel

   antonyms:

   noncivilized

   not having a high state of culture and social development

   barbarian, barbaric, savage, uncivilised, uncivilized, wild

   without civilizing influences

   barbarous

   primitive in customs and culture

   nonliterate, preliterate

   used of a society that has not developed writing

   primitive

   used of preliterate or tribal or nonindustrial societies

   uneducated

   having or showing little to no background in schooling
2. adjective

   marked by refinement in taste and manners
   synonyms: civilised, cultivated, cultured, genteel, polite

   refined

   (used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel