civil service

noun

: the administrative service of a government or international agency exclusive of the armed forces
especially : one in which appointments are determined by competitive examination

Examples of civil service in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In October 2024, a civil service hearing officer reversed the firing of Lt. Thomas Dhooghe, a white Michigan State Police lieutenant disciplined over the cheating scandal, and ordered the officer reinstated with back pay and benefits. Paul Egan, Freep.com, 29 July 2025 Many of the 1,400 employees were protected from firing by civil service laws. Erwin Chemerinsky, Twin Cities, 25 July 2025 The governor also pioneered civil service reform, insisting that government jobs be awarded on merit. Time, 16 July 2025 Currently, only cities that have opted into civil service rules for officers – Austin, Houston and San Antonio among them – can keep a G file. Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 26 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for civil service

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1770, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of civil service was circa 1770

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Cite this Entry

“Civil service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20service. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

civil service

noun
: the branch of a government that takes care of the business of running a state but that does not include the lawmaking branch, the military, or the court system

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