milieu
Definitions
A person's social environment.
The physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops.
Examples
Coming from a rural background, he found the fast-paced urban milieu quite overwhelming.
The artist's work is deeply influenced by the bohemian milieu of 1920s Paris.
It is difficult to maintain one's integrity when working in such a corrupt political milieu.
Synonyms
environment setting background surroundings ambience context atmosphere