civil service

American  

noun

1. those branches of public service concerned with all governmental administrative functions outside the armed services.

2. the body of persons employed in these branches.

3. a system or method of appointing government employees on the basis of competitive examinations, rather than by political patronage.

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civil service British  

noun

1. the service responsible for the public administration of the government of a country. It excludes the legislative, judicial, and military branches. Members of the civil service have no official political allegiance and are not generally affected by changes of governments

2. the members of the civil service collectively

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civil service Cultural  

1. The nonmilitary personnel who work for a government, applying its laws and regulations.

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Etymology

Origin of civil service

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

civil service

For several years, I worked for the Chief Leader, also located in lower Manhattan, which has covered civil service since 1897.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026

Mistral models are also being used to roll out a French government tool for part of the civil service administration.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

The immediate cause of the anger is a preliminary civil service examination held in April.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Now 28, she has taken the state civil service exam twice.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Prison jobs became civil service jobs; prisons within the states became more standardized and centrally controlled; and unions in a few states, particularly New York and California, became important players.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• administration
• authority
• management
• ministry
• red tape