civil
6 synonyms and 2 antonyms for civil, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to ordinary citizens and government, as opposed to the military or religion.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
non-military
Antonyms
How to use civil
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
civil war
civil rights
civil law
stay civil
Etymology
From Old French civil, from Latin cīvīlis ("relating to a citizen"), from cīvis ("citizen").
Full origin of civil →Frequently asked questions
What does “civil” mean?
The word “civil” means relating to ordinary citizens and government, as opposed to the military or religion. In plain terms, to do with ordinary citizens and everyday life (not military/religious), or simply "polite but not exactly warm.".
How do you pronounce “civil”?
“Civil” is pronounced SIHV-uhl (/ˈsɪv.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “civil” in a sentence?
Here is “civil” used in a sentence: “The country moved from military rule to civil government.”
What part of speech is “civil”?
“Civil” is an adjective.
Where does the word “civil” come from?
The word “civil” comes from Latin. From Old French civil, from Latin cīvīlis ("relating to a citizen"), from cīvis ("citizen").
Is “civil” a common word?
“Civil” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “civil” have?
“Civil” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to ordinary citizens and government, as opposed to the military or religion.
What is the difference between civil and civic?
'Civil' relates to citizens and the state in a broad sense — civil rights, civil war, civil law — and can also mean polite. 'Civic' relates specifically to a city or town and the duties of citizenship, as in civic duty, civic pride, or civic centre. Civil is broader; civic is about community and local citizenship.
Does 'civil' mean polite?
It can. Besides relating to citizens and the state, 'civil' has a second common sense: courteous and respectful, though often only minimally so. Saying 'they were civil to each other' suggests basic politeness rather than warmth. The noun 'civility' captures this idea of well-mannered, considerate behaviour.
What does 'civil' mean in 'civil war'?
In 'civil war', 'civil' means between citizens of the same country. A civil war is an armed conflict fought within one nation, between opposing groups of its own people, rather than against a foreign enemy. The same sense of 'internal to a society' appears in civil unrest and civil disorder.
