adj

civil

SIHV-uhl

adj

Relating to ordinary citizens and government, as opposed to the military or religion.

"The country moved from military rule to civil government."

"He works in the civil service."

Polite and reasonably courteous, without being warm or friendly.

"They kept things civil even though they clearly disagreed."

"Please try to be civil during the meeting."

Relating to private disputes between citizens, as opposed to criminal law.

"She filed a civil lawsuit against her former landlord."

How to Use Civil

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo do with ordinary citizens and everyday life (not military/religious), or simply "polite but not exactly warm."

Common mistake

Civil (polite, or citizen-related) is not the same as civic (relating to a city/community) — they overlap but aren't interchangeable, e.g. "civic duty" not "civil duty."

Easily confused with

civic →

Common pairings

civil war civil rights civil law stay civil

Word Forms

more civil comparative, civiler comparative, Civils plural, most civil superlative, civilest superlative

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The country moved from military rule to _____ government.

Etymology

From Old French civil, from Latin cīvīlis ("relating to a citizen"), from cīvis ("citizen").