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

According to Finance Department records, the number of civil service positions has increased 23% between fiscal years 2017-18 and 2024-25. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2026

Hiring processes are governed by countywide civil service rules, which limit how quickly departments can recruit and onboard employees. —Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026

The policy targeted former party members, particularly those in senior positions under the previous government, and led to large-scale dismissals across the public sector, including the military, education and civil service. —ABC News, 4 May 2026

Police Chief Jason Bonace is not named as a defendant, but the complaint argues civil service rules were violated to promote him from K-9 officer to police chief. —Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1770, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for civil service

• interservice
• disservice
• preservice
• nervous
• nervus

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