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.
Under pressure from powerful critics, elite universities have begun to make changes such as adopting statements of institutional neutrality, capping grade inflation, promising to protect open inquiry and establishing civics centers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Contrary to what you learned in civics class, the grease that keeps the wheels of American democracy turning isn’t voters, legislation, or donor cash; it’s staffers.
From Slate ● Aug. 27, 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
Capitol Historical Society, where our mission is to preserve history, elevate civics and help Americans better understand Congress and the Capitol.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
I sat on the library floor and hand-copied books on history, geography, civics, agriculture, and other subjects.
From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau
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.
