Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to ordinary citizens and their concerns, as distinct from military or religious matters: "civil" describes things pertaining to the general public, civic life, or secular society.
   • Relating to private rights and legal proceedings between individuals or organizations: In law, "civil" refers to matters of private rights, as opposed to criminal law.
   • Polite and courteous in behavior: "civil" describes conduct that is minimally polite and respectful in social interactions.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The country was recovering from a long period of civil war. (The war occurred within the state, among its own citizens.)
  • He was involved in a civil lawsuit over a contract dispute. (The case is a matter of private law between parties.)
  • Although they disagreed, they managed to keep the conversation civil. (Their interaction was polite and not rude.)

Advanced Usage

• "civil rights": the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
  • The movement fought for the civil rights of all people.
• "civil servant": a person employed in the public sector by a government department or agency.
  • She has worked as a civil servant for twenty years.
• "civil engineering": the professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment.
  • He studied civil engineering at university.

Variants and Related Words

• Civility (n): polite, reasonable, and respectful behavior.
  • The debate was conducted with surprising civility.
• Civilian (n/adj): (a person) not in the armed services or the police force.
  • The bomb injured both soldiers and civilians.
• Civilize (v): bring (a place or people) to a stage of social and cultural development considered to be more advanced.
  • Missionaries attempted to civilize the indigenous population.

Synonyms

• Civic: relating to a city or town, especially its administration; also relating to the duties or activities of people in relation to their town, city, or local area. (e.g., ).
• Polite: having or showing behavior that is respectful and considerate of other people.
• Secular: denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "civil" is primarily an adjective and does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• To keep a civil tongue (in one's head): to speak politely, especially when one is angry or likely to be rude.
  • I suggest you keep a civil tongue when speaking to the judge.
• Civil disobedience: the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest.
  • The activists practiced civil disobedience by sitting in the street.

Adjective

1. of or in a condition of social order
   • civil peoples
2. (of divisions of time) legally recognized in ordinary affairs of life
   • the civil calendar
   • a civil day begins at mean midnight
3. of or relating to or befitting citizens as individuals
   • civil rights
   • civil liberty
   • civic duties
   • civic pride
4. of or occurring within the state or between or among citizens of the state
   • civil affairs
   • civil strife
   • civil disobedience
   • civil branches of government
5. not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others
   • even if he didn't like them he should have been civil- W.S. Maugham
6. applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
   • civil authorities