sociéte

Société is a French term that translates to "society" in the broad sense or to "company" or "corporation" in the business sense, depending on context.

In sociology and anthropology, a société denotes an organized group of individuals sharing a culture, institutions, and coordinated activities. Societies are defined by norms, social roles, and institutions such as family, education, religion, and the economy, and they develop structures to manage cooperation, conflict, and exchange across generations.

Etymology: the word derives from Latin societas, from socius, meaning "ally" or "companion." The concept has evolved with urbanization, state formation, and economic development, shaping how scholars describe social order and collective life.

Legal and business sense: in civil-law jurisdictions such as France, a société is a legal entity formed to engage in commercial, industrial, or civil activities. Common forms include société anonyme (SA), société par actions simplifiée (SAS), and société à responsabilité limitée (SARL); there is also société civile (SC) for non-commercial professional or real estate activity. A société has legal personality, may own property, enter contracts, and bear liability independent of its owners.

Distinctions and usage: the word's corporate meaning is distinct from its general social meaning, though both senses derive from the idea of association and cooperation. In French-language contexts, the choice of form (SA, SAS, SARL, etc.) indicates liability, governance, and capital structure, while in English-language discussions the term is usually translated as "society" or "company" according to the topic.