civil servant

noun

1

: a member of a civil service

2

: a member of the administrative staff of an international agency

Synonyms of civil servant

• public servant
• clerk
• official
• employee
• worker
• bureaucrat

Examples of civil servant in a Sentence

took the examination to become a civil servant in the defense department

Recent Examples on the Web

Until 1946, most citizens seeking compensation for a negligent or wrongful act by a civil servant could get it only through a literal act of Congress, case by case. —Andy Rose, CNN Money, 25 Jan. 2026

Advertisement Even if its opponents see through the junta’s election, with some ethnic armed organizations denouncing the election, the vote could provide reassurance to its own ranks, civil servants, and supporters and shore up morale and discipline within the armed forces. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 Jan. 2026

Onstage, Gemmill made sure to thank all the first responders and civil servants. —Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026

The duties of civil servants, who remained in their chairs as presidents came and went, were supposed to transcend patronage and partisanship. —Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for civil servant

• fervent
• maidservant
• manservant
• observant