civil society

British

noun

the elements such as freedom of speech, an independent judiciary, etc, that make up a democratic society

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Decision-making will be less formal than in U.N. climate talks, using a participatory process involving governments, scientists and civil society that informs a high-level segment.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

While the average person does not have the power of a federal judge, they do have the agency to make choices in their own daily lives that can weaken or strengthen civil society.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

The pope also called on Algeria's leaders "not to fear" greater public participation in political life, calling for a "vibrant, dynamic and free civil society".

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

According to its website, Together Alliance is a group of civil society organisations including trade unionists, faith groups, and environmentalists that represent more than seven million people.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Race issues still scarred civil society, certainly, but one problem that Americans were happy to live without was the blight that ravaged Europe in the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s: militant nationalism.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023