adj
Common
civic
SIH-vihk
Civic (adj) means relating to a city, a citizen, or citizenship; municipal or civil in nature. Example: “Residents gathered in the civic hall to discuss the new bus route.”
adj
1
Relating to a city, a citizen, or citizenship; municipal or civil in nature.
"Residents gathered in the civic hall to discuss the new bus route."
"The mayor cut the ribbon at the new civic centre."
"Voting is often described as a civic duty."
2
Relating to good citizenship and the responsibilities that come with it.
"Volunteering at the food bank is part of her civic responsibility."
"Teachers hope the project will build civic pride in young pupils."
"Schools try to teach civic values like respect and responsibility."
How to use civic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with a city, its citizens, or the responsibilities of being one.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
civic duty
civic pride
civic centre
civic responsibility
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more civic
- Superlative
- most civic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Residents gathered in the _____ hall to discuss the new bus route.
Etymology
From Latin civicus, "pertaining to a city or its citizens."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “civic” mean?
The word “civic” means relating to a city, a citizen, or citizenship; municipal or civil in nature. In plain terms, to do with a city, its citizens, or the responsibilities of being one.
How do you pronounce “civic”?
“Civic” is pronounced SIH-vihk (/ˈsɪvɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “civic” in a sentence?
Here is “civic” used in a sentence: “The mayor cut the ribbon at the new civic centre.”
What part of speech is “civic”?
“Civic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “civic” come from?
The word “civic” comes from Latin. From Latin civicus, "pertaining to a city or its citizens.".
Is “civic” a common word?
“Civic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “civic” have?
“Civic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to a city, a citizen, or citizenship; municipal or civil in nature.
What is the difference between civic and civil?
Civic relates to a city, its citizens, or citizenship — civic buildings, civic duty, civic pride. Civil relates to citizens in general, to politeness (a civil reply), or to non-criminal law (civil court). Where civic points to community and municipal life, civil points to society, courtesy, or the legal sphere.
What is the difference between civic and civics?
Civic is an adjective meaning relating to a city, citizens, or citizenship. Civics, with an s, is a noun naming the study of citizens' rights and responsibilities, taught as a school subject mainly in the United States. So you show civic pride but study civics.
What are common collocations with civic?
Frequent pairings include civic duty, civic pride, civic engagement, civic center, civic leader, and civic responsibility. In each, civic signals a connection to the city or to citizenship. British English also uses civic centre for a complex of municipal buildings.
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