civics
Americannoun
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
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.
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
We support your editorial's call to strengthen civics education and viewpoint diversity on college campuses.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
I think the 250th is a pretty great opportunity to go do basic civics again.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Williams has said he fondly remembers his civics and French classes at North Hollywood High, but his time and passion were almost exclusively devoted to music.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
I’d almost forgotten about the civics class charade.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
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.
