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

Thomas-Symonds has recently acquired extra responsibilities at the Cabinet Office including civil service reform while his fellow minister Darren Jones spends more time trying to help the prime minister drive his agenda.

From BBC

"Be it in the army, civil protection, civil service or voluntary firefighters, the idea is for every young person to contribute to the collective wellbeing," she said.

From Barron's

The Office of Personnel Management began sending emails to the entire civil service asking what it is they actually do.

From The Wall Street Journal

Protests began later that year with a demand to abolish quotas in civil service jobs.

From BBC

Ambassadors are managed by the Foreign Office and the civil service, and bosses of both were answering questions from MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

From BBC

Related Words

• administration
• authority
• management
• ministry
• red tape