civil
of, relating to, or consisting of citizens: civil life; civil society.
of the commonwealth or state: civil affairs.
of citizens in their ordinary capacity, or of the ordinary life and affairs of citizens, as distinguished from military and ecclesiastical life and affairs.
of the citizen as an individual: civil liberty.
befitting a citizen: a civil duty.
of, or in a condition of, social order or organized government; civilized: civil peoples.
adhering to the norms of polite social intercourse; not deficient in common courtesy: After their disagreement, their relations were civil though not cordial.
marked by benevolence: He was a very civil sort, and we liked him immediately.
(of divisions of time) legally recognized in the ordinary affairs of life: the civil year.
of or relating to civil law.
Origin of civil
1synonym study For civil
Other words for civil
Opposites for civil
Other words from civil
- civ·il·ness, noun
- an·ti·civ·il, adjective
- half-civil, adjective
- half-civ·il·ly, adverb
- o·ver·civ·il, adjective
- o·ver·civ·il·ly, adverb
- quasi-civil, adjective
- qua·si-civ·il·ly, adverb
- su·per·civ·il, adjective
- su·per·civ·il·ly, adverb
Words Nearby civil
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use civil in a sentence
Malcolm was incarcerated for several years and went on to mobilize thousands on issues of both civil and human rights.
How Laurence Fishburne Gave Voice To ‘The Autobiography Of Malcolm X’ | Joi-Marie McKenzie | September 17, 2020 | Essence.comTo create lasting community change, meaningful reforms should also be a component of civil settlements.
The policing reforms in the Breonna Taylor settlement, explained | Fabiola Cineas | September 17, 2020 | VoxI would say that with civil disturbance type operations, we’re reluctant because there are many things that can go wrong.
Mobilizing the National Guard Doesn’t Mean Your State Is Under Martial Law. Usually. | by Logan Jaffe | September 17, 2020 | ProPublicaI've had long conversations with the civil rights community here to say that I recognize that he would have been a great assistant attorney general for civil rights.
The city and the district attorney listed multiple “Does” on each injunction upon the initial filing, so that law enforcement could add people in the future without having to file another civil injunction.
While We’re Rethinking Policing, It’s Time to End Gang Injunctions | Jamie Wilson | September 15, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
They are, to say the least, preparing for civil war (the polling stations are stormed by armed gangs).
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President | Pierre Assouline | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut what is there more irresponsible than playing with the fire of an imagined civil war in the France of today?
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President | Pierre Assouline | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTCompared with neighbors Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos, Cambodia appears to have a blossoming civil society.
Strangio is at his best when exposing what appears to be a flourishing civil society in Cambodia.
Rashad was there to celebrate the release of the civil Rights drama Selma.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers | Stereo Williams | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHis 6,000 native auxiliaries (as it proved later on) could not be relied upon in a civil war.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanA lineman was sent out to repair it under escort of civil guards, who were forced by the rebels to retire.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanIn the good old days of yore there was little trouble in obtaining admission to the civil Service.
He held various civil offices, was a justice of the peace about 60 years, and for many years a member of the state legislature.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellAlessandro had hard work to give civil answers to the men who wished to buy Benito and the wagon for quarter of their value.
Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
British Dictionary definitions for civil
/ (ˈsɪvəl) /
of the ordinary life of citizens as distinguished from military, legal, or ecclesiastical affairs
of or relating to the citizen as an individual: civil rights
of or occurring within the state or between citizens: civil strife
polite or courteous
a less common word for civic
of or in accordance with Roman law
relating to the private rights of citizens
Origin of civil
1Derived forms of civil
- civilly, adverb
- civilness, noun
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
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