noun
Common
civilian
sih-VIHL-yuhn
Civilian (noun) means a person who is not a member of the armed forces, police, or similar organisation. Example: “As a civilian, she volunteered at the base kitchen once a week.”
noun
1
A person who is not a member of the armed forces, police, or similar organisation.
"As a civilian, she volunteered at the base kitchen once a week."
"The convoy was ordered not to fire near civilians."
"After the army, he struggled to adjust to civilian life."
adj
1
Not related to the military, police, or other uniformed services.
"The airport is used for both military and civilian flights."
"A civilian driver took the soldiers to the station in an ordinary van."
"He swapped his uniform for civilian clothes on the weekend."
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.
Common pairings
civilian life
civilian clothes
innocent civilians
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Word forms
- Plural
- civilians
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As a _____, she volunteered at the base kitchen once a week.
Etymology
From Old French civilien, built from civil plus the suffix -ian.
Synonyms
View more →
noncombatant
non-combatant
private citizen
nonmilitary
Antonyms
Related words
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.
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.
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