civic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a city; municipal.
civic problems.
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of or relating to citizenship; civil.
civic duties.
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of citizens.
civic pride.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of civic
1535–45; < Latin cīvicus, equivalent to cīv ( is ) citizen + -icus -ic
Explanation
If something is related to or benefits an individual citizen, it can be described as civic. People often say that it is your civic duty to vote. The adjective civic comes from the Latin word civis, which was the word for a citizen of Ancient Rome. It is also a root word for "city," so civic can also mean anything related to a city. In your town, civic leaders meet frequently and public input is always welcome. So if you have a grievance about a civic issue, you should attend a meeting — or drop by the diner where the mayor always eats breakfast.
Vocabulary lists containing civic
A Long Walk to Water
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Back-Words: Palindromes
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We the People: Civ
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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.
While “assimilation” and “integration” arguments present themselves as a neutral, civic concern about internal cohesion, they’re anything but.
From Slate • May 26, 2026
Collectively, they are attacks on basic principles and norms of democracy, civility, decency, equality, fairness, and dignity that American civic life nominally rests on.
From Salon • May 26, 2026
On Friday, the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner warned that Serbia's rights situation had worsened, citing attacks on activists and journalists, shrinking civic space and alleged police abuses at protests.
From Barron's • May 23, 2026
Middleton’s father, John Gregg Middleton was deeply involved in Chambers County civic life, serving on city council and the board of the local bank and country club.
From Salon • May 23, 2026
He has no religion, no concept of morality, no civic responsibility, no fear—nothing.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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.
