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

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civil action

The bill also allows a borrower to bring a civil action against a mortgage servicer for violations of the law.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 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

However, she noted that "less intrusive" measures such as a police warning or civil action were not pursued prior to prosecution.

From BBC ● Nov. 19, 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

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