civilise

Civilise is a verb used in British English to describe the process of bringing a person, a people, or a society to a more orderly, educated, or refined state. It can mean to educate, civilize, or reform behavior; to impose orderly governance or law; or to develop cultural and social institutions so as to conform to a perceived standard of civilization. In common usage, civilising efforts may target manners, education systems, public health, or political institutions.

The word derives from the Latin civilis 'of citizens' via Old French civiliser. The corresponding noun is civilization (American: civilization, British: civilisation). The past participle adjective is civilized or civilised, depending on spelling variant.

Historically, colonial and missionary projects described themselves as civilising missions, arguing that Western culture and governance were superior. In contemporary usage, the term can be neutral when discussing development or governance, but it can carry ethnocentric or paternalistic connotations and is often scrutinized for implying cultural superiority. Modern discussions may prefer terms like 'development', 'reform', or 'cultural exchange' to avoid judgmental language.

Related terms include civilization, civilised, civilization process, and civilising mission.