Cool MateCompany vs Society
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Company
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Society
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Company | Society | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkʌmpəni/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkʌmpəni/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/səˈsaɪəti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səˈsaɪəti/"]/ |
| Meaning | A group of people who work together to make or sell something. | A group of people living together and sharing laws, customs, and values. |
| Example | I work at a software company that develops applications. | In our society, we value education and hard work. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | big, large, leading, group, create, establish, form, make something, manufacture something, produce something, director, executive, owner, in a/the company, within a/the company, a director of a company, large, small, touring, good, pleasant, poor, have, keep somebody, need, for company, in somebody’s company, have the pleasure of somebody’s company, request the pleasure of somebody’s company, like your own company, expect, have, mixed, assembled, keep, in company, get into bad company, keep bad company, present company excepted | larger, wider, entire, build, create, change, be based on something, become, in (a) society, within (a) society, a cross-section of society, the fabric of society, the higher echelons of society, larger, wider, entire, build, create, change, be based on something, become, in (a) society, within (a) society, a cross-section of society, the fabric of society, the higher echelons of society, debating, drama, dramatic, belong to, become a member of, join, in a/the society, society for, society of, larger, wider, entire, build, create, change, be based on something, become, in (a) society, within (a) society, a cross-section of society, the fabric of society, the higher echelons of society |
| Antonyms | individual, self | isolation, individualism, seclusion |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'companion' — remember, a company is usually a business., Using 'company' in the singular form when referring to multiple businesses., Mixed up with 'firm' — 'firm' can be more specific to certain types of companies. | Confused with 'community'; society is broader than a community., Using it as a verb, but it's only a noun., Mistaking it for 'sociality'; they have different meanings. |
| Usage notes | Use 'company' in both formal and informal contexts when referring to businesses. Avoid in casual phrases unrelated to business, like 'keeping company' (which means spending time with someone). | Use 'society' when discussing large groups or communities. It's appropriate for academic and casual contexts, but avoid informal settings where the term may come off as too serious. |
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Frequently asked questions: Company vs Society
What's the difference between Company and Society?
Company: A group of people who work together to make or sell something. Society: A group of people living together and sharing laws, customs, and values.
Which is more advanced: Company and Society?
Society is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Company and Society the same CEFR level?
Company: A1, Society: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Company and Society?
Company: noun, Society: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Company: I work at a software company that develops applications. Society: In our society, we value education and hard work.
Can I use Company and Society interchangeably?
Not always. Company and Society are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.