also: せいたい
noun
state of society; social conditions
A somewhat formal or literary term for the overall condition or trends of society. Often used in discussions of social issues or historical context.
当時の世態を反映した小説だ。
It's a novel that reflects the social conditions of that time.
世態の変化に伴い、人々の価値観も変わった。
Along with changes in the state of society, people's values also changed.
世相 is more common and refers to the current social situation or trends, while 世態 is more formal and often implies a broader, more structural view of society.
社会情勢 is a more analytical term for social conditions, often used in news or reports, whereas 世態 has a slightly literary or historical nuance.
Compound of 世 (world, society) and 態 (condition, state). The reading せたい is the standard on'yomi, while せいたい is a less common variant.