civil war

noun

plural civil wars
: a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country
a country on the brink of (a) civil war
often used in the capitalized names of specific wars
the Spanish Civil War
(American/U.S.) Civil War monuments

Note: The American Civil War, fought 1861–1865 between the United States and 11 southern states that had seceded from it, is also commonly known as the U.S. Civil War, or especially in the U.S. as the War Between the States or simply the Civil War.

Examples of civil war in a Sentence

a region that has had many civil wars The country is on the brink of civil war.
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.
The complex and brutal civil war in her country killed thousands. Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025 Ambassador Barbara Leaf, who served as assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, visited Damascus and met with Shara in December, becoming the highest-ranking official to meet with Syrian leadership since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025 As king, Shakespeare’s Macbeth meets a tragic end when civil war erupts and his rival Macduff beheads him. Marlene L. Daut september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025 This level of cooperation has faded since the turn of the century, as the P5 butted heads repeatedly over issues like the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the civil war in Syria. Richard Gowan, Time, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for civil war

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of civil war was circa 1533

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Cite this Entry

“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20war. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

civil war

noun
: a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country or nation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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