From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcivilizationciv‧i‧li‧za‧tion (also civilisation British English) /ˌsɪvəl-aɪˈzeɪʃən $ -vələ-/ ●●○ noun 1 [countable, uncountable]SOCIETY a society that is well organized and developed, used especially about a particular society in a particular place or at a particular time → civilized modern American civilizationcivilization of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome2 [uncountable]SOCIETY all the societies in the world considered as a whole The book explores the relationship between religion and civilization. the dawn of civilization (=the beginning of civilization)3 [uncountable]COMFORTABLE a place such as a city where you feel comfortable, especially because it is modern → civilized After a week in the mountains, all I wanted to do was get back to civilization.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesAmerican/European/Chinese etc civilizationthe history of Chinese civilizationwestern civilization (=from Europe or the Americas)Many people are rejecting the values of western civilization.ancient civilization (=a very old one)The achievements of Egypt's ancient civilization were remarkable.modern civilizationTechnology is one of the benefits of modern civilization.a great civilization (=very important and interesting)the great civilizations of India and Chinahuman civilizationthe development of human civilizationindustrial civilizationIndustrial civilization is barely a century old.an advanced civilizationPhilosophy is a luxury of an advanced civilization.higher civilizations (=more advanced ones)There could be higher civilizations on other planets.a primitive civilization (=one that is not at all advanced)His main interest was primitive civilizations.early civilizations (=existing before others, or at the beginning of a period of time)the early civilizations of Mesopotamia and the East Mediterranean
Examples from the Corpus
civilization• When the time came for civilization on the planet of the Perks, they built war-trains, undermining engines, mole bombs.• He just came in and destroyed this really high civilization and then left.• Once humans had invented civilization, they never lost it.• Our century has seen greater climate changes than any period since the dawn of civilization.• There was nothing down there on the earth-no towns, no light, no signs of civilization at all.• Called to attend at 10.15 in the morning, we started in the time-honoured way of civilization with a coffee break.• To see them clearly one has to withdraw, mentally at least, from the civilization of which one is a part.• But there is a sense in which religion is no less essential to civilization than literature and the fine arts.• Much of the hostility towards civilization felt by people in the suppressed classes is understandable. 