civic
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to a city; municipal.
civic problems.
-
of or relating to citizenship; civil.
civic duties.
-
of citizens.
civic pride.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- anticivic adjective
- civically adverb
- intercivic adjective
- procivic adjective
- uncivic adjective
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.
But the idea that TMZ has suddenly discovered a civic conscience strains credulity.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
That security allowed us to do everything immigrants and their children are supposed to do: buy homes, build careers, contribute to civic life and love this country.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
The United Nations has urged Burkina to reverse the decision to ban political parties and stop the repression of civic space.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
It helps that he is an heir of the Haas family that built Levi Strauss and has long funded local cultural and civic institutions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
There was a six-chair barbershop, where civic leaders were mummified in hot towels; and bathtubs for rent; and elevator banks lit by translucent egg-shaped marble lamps.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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.
