Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - society

~ n 1 »PEOPLE IN GENERAL« people in general, considered in relation to the structure of laws, organizations etc that makes it possible for them to live together  (Society has a right to expect people to obey the law. | a danger to society)  (He should be locked up; he's a danger to society!) 2 »A PARTICULAR GROUP« a particular large group of people who share laws, organizations, customs etc  (Britain is a multi-racial society. | Drug abuse is one of the problems confronting modern Western society. | the consumer society)  (Is greed a product of the consumer society? | the affluent society)  (Shopaholics are a new problem, born of the affluent society. | polite society (=people who think they have the highest standards of behaviour)) 3 »CLUB« an organization or a club with members who share similar interests, aims etc  (the university film society | the Law Society) 4 »UPPER CLASS« the fashionable group of people who are rich and belong to the upper class  (a society wedding | high society (=the richest, most fashionable etc people) | be introduced into society (=to begin to attend the fashionable events organized by this group)) 5 »COMPANY« formal the companionship of other people  (Jacob shunned the society of others, preferring to be alone.)  (- see also building society, friendly society)