# civil

/ˈsɪvəɫ/ (US) · /sˈɪvəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/civil
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. non-military

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

relating to ordinary citizens and their government, rather than the military or the church.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. polite

adjective · CEFR B2

polite and reasonable, especially when you are trying to avoid an argument.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. legal/private

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

relating to laws about private matters, like contracts or family, rather than crimes.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- They managed to have a civil conversation despite their disagreement.
- The two neighbors remained civil toward each other for the sake of the children, though they were no longer friends.
- While the dispute began as a personal grievance, it eventually escalated into a civil lawsuit concerning property boundaries and historical land rights.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.