civics
Americannoun
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civics
plural
noun
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the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship
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the study of government and its workings
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of civics
Explanation
The study of citizenship is called civics. If your school offers a civics class, you can learn about the importance of things like voting and paying taxes. Student government can teach you about civics, and so can certain social studies lessons and classes that a country's new citizens sometimes take. Civics can teach you about the rights granted to citizens, as well as their responsibilities, such as serving on juries and engaging in the political process. The word civics was an American English invention, modeled on politics, from the Latin civicus, "of a citizen."
Vocabulary lists containing civics
We the People: Civ
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Out of the Dust
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American Government and Civics, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The attendees were celebrating the Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness, which announced that it had reached 2 million children with civics education since its founding in 2016.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
‘PBS Kids Across America,’ a block of programming tied to the 250th anniversary of America, aims to celebrate the country’s diversity while dropping history lessons and civics knowledge.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
We can teach history honestly, elevate civics, vote, serve, listen and continue believing, as Lincoln urged us, in the better angels of our nature.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
It celebrates the diversity of our country and the children who live here while dropping some history lessons and civics knowledge along the way.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
Bring your daughter who wants to attend Columbia, bring her transcripts and civics essay and have her bring her violin.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
