civil action

American  

[siv-uhl ak-shuhn] / ˈsɪv əl ˈæk ʃən /

noun

Law.

1. a noncriminal lawsuit regarding an alleged violation of someone’s rights.

   When he started his own business and solicited his former employer’s clients, the employer filed a civil action against him.

   Some states require litigants in civil actions to go through alternative dispute resolution first.

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Example Sentences

Individuals caught accessing as well as facilitating such material can face criminal prosecution, fines and civil action from rights holders.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Under the bill, a union representative alleging a violation can bring a civil action to “obtain damages.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

‘The newly appointed attorney has demanded that I return almost half of the amount that I received and has filed a civil action to compel me to do so.’

From MarketWatch • Oct. 23, 2025

It is a civil action and does not involve criminal charges.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2025

Law enforcement officers generally have no personal resources to pay damages to victims of misconduct, so the city, county, or agency that employs them is typically the target of any civil action that seeks compensation.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson