Word
civilian
Phoneticscivil·ian
US/səˈvɪɫjən/
UK/sɪvˈɪliən/
Definitions
01non-military person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
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.
日本語:文民※
“The treaty was designed to protect civilians during the conflict.”
“International law mandates that all parties in a conflict must distinguish between combatants and civilians to prevent unnecessary loss of life.”
Usage
Often used in the plural to refer to the general population during a war.
Synonyms
02an outsider
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
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.
“The doctors used so much medical jargon that the civilians in the room were confused.”
“Within the tight-knit community of professional skaters, anyone who doesn't understand the culture is dismissed as a civilian.”
Teaching tip
This sense is often used humorously or slightly dismissively by professionals to describe 'regular' people.
Synonyms
03not military
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.
日本語:民間※
“He decided to leave the army and return to civilian life.”
“The transition from a rigid military structure to the flexibility of civilian employment can be challenging for many veterans.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “civilian” in context.
Verb
01. return to civilian life
“Many veterans find it challenging to return to civilian life after years of active service.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
02. target civilians
“International law strictly prohibits military forces from targeting civilians during armed conflicts.”
verb + noun
03. protect civilians
“The primary mission of the peacekeeping force was to protect civilians from the escalating violence.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. innocent civilians
“The air strike unfortunately resulted in the deaths of several innocent civilians.”
adj + noun
05. unarmed civilians
“The soldiers were criticized for opening fire on a group of unarmed civilians.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. civilian casualties
“The government reported that civilian casualties were kept to a minimum during the operation.”
noun + noun
07. civilian population
“The blockade has had a devastating impact on the local civilian population.”
noun + noun
08. evacuation of civilians
“The Red Cross coordinated the safe evacuation of civilians from the besieged city.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“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.” “Ecologists and rights groups have said fires and other forms of widespread environmental destruction will have wider effects on civilian populations.” “The United Nations has once again urged warring parties in Sudan to protect civilians as the fighting continues to take a heavy toll on the population.” Etymology
From Middle English cyvylien, from Old French civilien. Equivalent to civil + -ian.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/civilian
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0