civilian
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for civilian, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person who is not a member of the armed forces, police, or similar organisation.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use civilian
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French civilien, built from civil plus the suffix -ian.
Full origin of civilian →Frequently asked questions
What does “civilian” mean?
The word “civilian” means a person who is not a member of the armed forces, police, or similar organisation. In plain terms, an ordinary person outside the military, police, or similar organisations — or an adjective describing that ordinary, non-uniformed world.
How do you pronounce “civilian”?
“Civilian” is pronounced sih-VIHL-yuhn (/sɪˈvɪl.jən/ in IPA).
How do you use “civilian” in a sentence?
Here is “civilian” used in a sentence: “The convoy was ordered not to fire near civilians.”
What part of speech is “civilian”?
Depending on how it is used, “civilian” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “civilian” come from?
The word “civilian” comes from Old French. From Old French civilien, built from civil plus the suffix -ian.
Is “civilian” a common word?
“Civilian” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “civilian” have?
“Civilian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who is not a member of the armed forces, police, or similar organisation.
What is the difference between a 'civilian' and a 'citizen'?
A citizen is a legally recognised member of a country, with rights and duties tied to that status. A civilian is anyone who is not part of the armed forces, police, or a similar organisation, so a soldier is still a citizen but is not a civilian.
What is the difference between a civilian and a combatant?
A combatant is a person who takes part in fighting, typically a member of the armed forces. A civilian is someone outside the military, police, or similar services, so in wartime the distinction between civilians and combatants is central to protecting people not involved in the fighting.