Word
civil
Phoneticsciv·il, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɪvəɫ/
UK/sˈɪvəl/
Definitions
01non-military
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
adj. relating to ordinary citizens and their government, rather than the military or the church.
adj. relating to the state or its citizens as a whole, specifically as distinguished from military or ecclesiastical matters.
“After years of military rule, the country finally returned to civil government.”
“The transition from a military junta to a civil administration required extensive constitutional reforms to ensure the protection of individual liberties.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun.
02polite
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. polite and reasonable, especially when you are trying to avoid an argument.
adj. adhering to the minimum standards of social politeness; often implies a lack of warmth or friendliness while remaining formal.
“They are no longer friends, but they managed to be civil to each other at the party.”
“Despite their deep-seated professional rivalry, the two scientists remained civil during the panel discussion, focusing strictly on the data.”
Teaching tip
This sense often suggests that the person is being polite only because they have to be, not because they are being kind.
03legal/private
C1 · Advanced Law Technical · Formal
adj. relating to laws about private matters, like contracts or family, rather than crimes.
adj. relating to private rights and remedies sought by action or suit, as distinct from criminal law.
“The company is facing a civil lawsuit over the broken contract.”
“While the defendant was acquitted in criminal court, he still faced significant financial penalties in the subsequent civil proceedings.”
Usage
Commonly used in phrases like 'civil law', 'civil suit', or 'civil court'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “civil” in context.
Adjective
01. civil code
“The country's civil code governs private disputes between individuals and organizations.”
adj + noun
02. civil society
“A strong civil society is essential for maintaining a healthy and functioning democracy.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“The Foreign Office has given civil servants extra payments for working in areas where there is a high level of danger, or high risks to health, for the past 30 years.” “Anna*, a civil servant who has three children under the age of seven, said she and her husband take turns working from home to avoid paying for after-school childcare.” Etymology
From Middle English cyvyl, civil, borrowed from Old French civil, from Latin cīvīlis (“relating to a citizen”), from cīvis (“citizen”). Cognate with Old English hīwen (“household”), hīrǣden (“family”). More at hind; hird.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/civil