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.
Justices who want to stake out their lane in American cultural or civic life can, and are doing so, in their opinions or in their books.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 12, 2026
Local governments and civic groups have taken things one step further, putting on state-backed matchmaking events like this one at Donghwasa Temple.
From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026
While smaller than its counterparts in Orange County or the San Gabriel Valley, the San Fernando Valley has a strong Vietnamese community with churches, temples, civic organizations and even a small magazine, Ma said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2026
In practice, that constitutional protection becomes most visible during major public gatherings, when celebrations, protests and political messaging occupy the same civic space.
From Salon • Jul. 5, 2026
The head was in the midst of about fifty large, artificial earthen mounds—the ruins, Sterling concluded with excitement, of a previously unknown Maya civic center.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
