civil defense
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of civil defense
First recorded in 1935–40
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.
South Korea has massively invested in civil defense.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
"It requires surveys to discover and track NEOs, campaigns to characterize those that are hazardous, modeling efforts to understand and predict impact effects and associated consequences, and mitigation through impact avoidance and/or civil defense."
From Science Daily • Oct. 31, 2025
According to Laura Velazquez, the head of Mexico's civil defense authority, the states of Veracruz, Hidalgo and Puebla were hardest hit by flooding brought on by days of heavy rains.
From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025
For example, Singapore’s strict fire prevention laws, enforced by an active civil defense force, offer lessons in how to stop fires before they start.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2025
“Iowa is not ready for a nuclear attack,” announced the state’s civil defense director.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
