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

In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Lebanon endured an intense civil war. — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Little has been known about her condition since the coup, which triggered a civil war that has killed about 100,000 people, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event data, a conflict monitoring organization. — Lorcan Lovett, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026

Comedy civil war erupts as comics take sides over Shane Gillis monologue. — FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

In 1976, the Syrian military intervened during Lebanon’s civil war to put an end to sectarian violence. — Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for civil war

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

Kids Definition

civil war

noun

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