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

Emigration has been common in Lebanon for more than a century, even before the civil war, during it, and after every crisis, and today the diaspora is larger than the population inside the country. —Essie Assibu, Variety, 22 Nov. 2025

Many fled the long civil war in their east African country and were drawn to the state's welcoming social programs. —NPR, 22 Nov. 2025

After World War II, the island was placed under the control of China's Nationalist government, which later fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war to the Chinese Communist Party. —Britt Clennett, ABC News, 19 Nov. 2025

The leaders certainly will have plenty to talk about including maintaining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, mutual concerns about Iran’s malign behavior, and a brutal civil war in Sudan. —Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 18 Nov. 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