civil service

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.

civil service

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

civil service

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of civil service¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Related Words

• administration 
• authority 
• management 
• ministry 
• red tape