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

The fort was used as a prison for confederate officers and government officials during the civil war, and it's known for housing confederate vice president Alexander Stephens. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Aparicio explores themes of erasure and memory to honor and reflect on his family’s history during and after the Salvadoran civil war by using materials such as amber or petrified resin and rubber, inspired by Indigenous techniques, his Salvadoran heritage and L.A. roots. —Sarah Quiñones Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025

Remnants of civil war defenses proving deadly for civilians 13 hours, 56 minutes ago by GHAITH ALSAYED and SALLY ABOU ALJOUD The Associated Press IDLIB, Syria -- While the nearly 14-year Syrian civil war came to an end with the fall of Bashar Assad on Dec. 8, war remnants continue to kill and maim. —Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2025

Visiting the Central African Republic during a civil war. —Paul Elie, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for civil war

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore

Kids Definition

civil war

noun

: a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country or nation