Definition

1. Noun:
   • A public official who is a member of the civil service: A "civil servant" is a person employed in the public sector by a government department or agency. Their work involves implementing government policies and providing public services. They are typically hired based on merit and are expected to be politically neutral.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She has been a dedicated civil servant for over twenty years, working in the Department of Education.
  • The policy changes will affect thousands of civil servants across the country.
  • To become a civil servant, one often must pass a competitive examination.

Advanced Usage

• "Career civil servant": Refers to a person who has chosen the civil service as their long-term profession, as opposed to a political appointee.
  • As a career civil servant, he provided advice to ministers from different political parties.
• "Senior civil servant": Denotes a high-ranking official within the civil service hierarchy.
  • The decision was made after consultation with senior civil servants.

Variants and Related Words

• Civil service (n): The collective body of government employees who are not political appointees, judges, or military personnel.
  • He entered the civil service after graduating from university.
• Public servant (n): A broader term that can include civil servants as well as other government employees like teachers, police officers, and firefighters.
  • Many public servants, including civil servants and healthcare workers, were recognized for their service.

Synonyms

• Government employee: A person employed by the state.
• Public official: An individual holding a position of authority in the public sector.
• Bureaucrat: Often used, though sometimes with a negative connotation implying excessive adherence to rules.

Related Phrases

• To join the civil service: To begin employment as a civil servant.
  • She decided to join the civil service to contribute to public policy.
• Civil service reform: Changes made to the structure, rules, or practices of the civil service.
  • Civil service reform is a major topic in the upcoming election.

Related Idioms

• A pillar of the civil service: Used to describe a highly respected and long-serving civil servant.
  • After forty years of impeccable work, he was considered a pillar of the civil service.

Noun

1. a public official who is a member of the civil service