civilian
Civilian (noun) means a person who is not a member of the armed forces, police, or similar organisation. Example: “The convoy was ordered not to fire near civilians.”
How to Use Civilian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn ordinary person outside the military, police, or similar organisations — or an adjective describing that ordinary, non-uniformed world.
Word Forms
civilians plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The convoy was ordered not to fire near _____.
Etymology
From Old French civilien, built from civil plus the suffix -ian.
Rhymes for civilian
See all rhymes for 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.