civil defense

noun

: the system of protective measures and emergency relief activities conducted by civilians in case of hostile attack, sabotage, or natural disaster

Examples of civil defense in a Sentence

She's in training to be part of the local civil defense.

the head of civil defense

Recent Examples on the Web

After coordinating with the United Nations, Gaza’s civil defense recovered on Saturday nine bodies, including four children and three women. —Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025

Sweden’s government has allocated 575 million kronor ($60 million) for emergency grain storage with the initial priority given to the north of the country, which civil defense minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin said was strategically important for its military and defense. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

Palestinian civil defense teams officials collect the skeletal remains of Palestinians in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza today. —Nbc News, NBC news, 12 Oct. 2025

That’s according to Gaza civil defense. —ABC News, 12 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for civil defense

• hyperintense
• antisense
• commonsense
• effulgence
• frankincense
• ninepence
• nondefense
• penitence
• recommence
• recompence
• recompense
• cense

Kids Definition

civil defense

noun

: protective actions and emergency relief activities carried on by civilians in case of enemy attack or natural disaster