civil

[siv-uhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or consisting of citizens.

   civil life; civil society.

2. of the commonwealth or state.

   civil affairs.

3. of citizens in their ordinary capacity, or of the ordinary life and affairs of citizens, as distinguished from military and ecclesiastical life and affairs.

4. of the citizen as an individual.

   civil liberty.

5. befitting a citizen.

   a civil duty.

6. of, or in a condition of, social order or organized government; civilized: civilized.

   civil peoples.

7. adhering to the norms of polite social intercourse; not deficient in common courtesy.

   After their disagreement, their relations were civil though not cordial.

   Synonyms: courtly, urbane, affable, suave, complaisant, gracious, deferential, respectful
   Antonyms: churlish, boorish

8. marked by benevolence.

   He was a very civil sort, and we liked him immediately.

   Synonyms: courtly, urbane, affable, suave, complaisant, gracious, deferential, respectful
   Antonyms: churlish, boorish

9. (of divisions of time) legally recognized in the ordinary affairs of life.

   the civil year.

10. of or relating to civil law.

civil

/ ˈsɪvəl /

adjective

1. of the ordinary life of citizens as distinguished from military, legal, or ecclesiastical affairs

2. of or relating to the citizen as an individual

   civil rights

3. of or occurring within the state or between citizens

   civil strife

4. polite or courteous

5. a less common word for civic

6. of or in accordance with Roman law

7. relating to the private rights of citizens

Other Word Forms

• civilness noun
• civilly adverb
• anticivil adjective
• half-civil adjective
• half-civilly adverb
• overcivil adjective
• overcivilly adverb
• quasi-civil adjective
• quasi-civilly adverb
• supercivil adjective
• supercivilly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of civil¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin cīvīlis, equivalent to cīv ( is ) citizen + -īlis -il

Word History and Origins

Origin of civil¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin cīvīlis, from cīvis citizen

Synonym Study

Civil, affable, courteous, polite all imply avoidance of rudeness toward others. Civil suggests a minimum of observance of social requirements. Affable suggests ease of approach and friendliness. Courteous implies positive, dignified, sincere, and thoughtful consideration for others. Polite implies habitual courtesy, arising from a consciousness of one's training and the demands of good manners.

Example Sentences

Strikes have intensified in areas of Gaza City in recent weeks and dozens of Palestinians have been killed in attacks this week alone according to the Hamas-run health ministry and civil defence agency.

From BBC

"We were having a civil and respectful exchange, until that moment," Blakemore-Creedon told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

From BBC

In a civil complaint, prosecutors allege that the Eaton fire ignited “from faulty power infrastructure or by sparks from faulty power infrastructure owned, maintained, and operated” by Edison.

From Los Angeles Times

The comments are the most positive remarks yet by the prime minister about the idea, which is likely to reignite a debate over civil liberties.

From BBC

The Grammy-winning rapper was seen on camera hurling a pen at the man in the press pool as she left an Alhambra courthouse during the lunch break of her civil assault trial.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• civilized 
• cordial 
• courteous 
• diplomatic 
• formal 
• polite