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 warsthe 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
What’s changed in Syria is that the Assad government is no more, bringing an end to years of civil war.
—
Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Sudan's two-year civil war deepens.
—ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
That sentiment is echoed by the United Nations, which has described the country's civil war as the most devastating humanitarian crisis in the world.
—NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
Spain, embroiled in civil war, did not enter.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil war
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Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Sudan's two-year civil war deepens.
—ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
That sentiment is echoed by the United Nations, which has described the country's civil war as the most devastating humanitarian crisis in the world.
—NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
Spain, embroiled in civil war, did not enter.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil war
Cite this Entry
“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20war. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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