civy

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Civilian: "civy" is an informal or slang term for a civilian, especially as distinguished from a member of the military.
   • Civilian clothes: In its plural form ("civies" or "civvies"), it refers to ordinary clothes worn by civilians, as opposed to a military uniform.

Usage Examples

• Noun (person):

  • After ten years in the army, he was happy to become a civy again. (He was glad to return to civilian life.)
  • The base is off-limits to all civies. (Civilians are not allowed on the base.)

• Noun (clothes):

  • The soldiers changed into their civies for the weekend pass. (They put on civilian clothing.)
  • You can wear civvies to the party — no uniform required. (Ordinary clothes are acceptable.)

Advanced Usage

• "Civy street": A slang term for civilian life, as opposed to military life.
  • He found adjusting to civy street difficult after years of discipline. (He struggled with the transition to ordinary civilian society.)

Variants and Related Words

• Civvy (n, adj): An alternative spelling of "civy," equally informal.

  • He's a civvy now, not a soldier. (He is a civilian.)
  • She wore civvy clothes to the event. (She wore non-military attire.)

• Civies (n, plural): The standard plural form for civilian clothes.

  • The troops were ordered to wear civies for the covert operation. (They wore ordinary clothing to avoid detection.)

Synonyms

• Civilian: a person not in the armed services.
• Civilian attire: ordinary clothing, not a uniform.

Related Idioms

• "Out of civies": (rare) Not in civilian clothes; in uniform.
  • He was out of civies and in full dress for the parade. (He was wearing his military uniform.)

Phrasal Verbs

• None: "civy" is not used in phrasal verbs.