civilian
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.someone who is not a member of the armed forces or the police.
n.a person who is not an active member of the military, police, or a fire department.
Simple“The treaty was designed to protect civilians during the conflict.”
In context“International law mandates that all parties in a conflict must distinguish between combatants and civilians to prevent unnecessary loss of life.”
UsageOften used in the plural to refer to the general population during a war.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.someone who does not belong to a specific professional group or subculture.
n.a person who is not a member of a particular profession, specialized group, or subculture. Informal in register.
Simple“The doctors used so much medical jargon that the civilians in the room were confused.”
In context“Within the tight-knit community of professional skaters, anyone who doesn't understand the culture is dismissed as a civilian.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is often used humorously or slightly dismissively by professionals to describe 'regular' people.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.relating to ordinary people who are not in the military.
adj.relating to or characteristic of the general public as opposed to the armed forces.
Simple“He decided to leave the army and return to civilian life.”
In context“The transition from a rigid military structure to the flexibility of civilian employment can be challenging for many veterans.”
Usage civilian infrastructure · civilian casualties · civilian protection
“At least 54 civilians were killed and 202 injured, as Russian forces significantly stepped up the use of ballistic and cruise missiles.”
“As the occupying power in the West Bank, Israel is responsible under international law for ensuring the safety of Palestinian civilians and meeting their basic needs.”
From Middle English cyvylien, from Old French civilien. Equivalent to civil + -ian.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.