civilian

1 of 2

noun

ci·​vil·​ian sə-ˈvil-yən 

 also  -ˈvi-yən

1

: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law

2

a

: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force

b

: outsider sense 1

civilian

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of, relating to, or made up of civilians

civilian concerns/demands

the civilian population

civilian customers/casualties

The Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the highest civilian honors in the United States.

b

: having the status of a civilian

a civilian pilot

2

: operated or controlled by civilians

civilian industry

: possessed by or vested in civilians

civilian authority

3

: intended or suited for use or consumption by civilians

civilian goods

With twin 2,520-horsepower engines and up to 19 seats, the Sikorsky S-92 is among the world's most powerful civilian helicopters.

—Josh Harkinson

Examples of civilian in a Sentence

Noun

The bomb injured 12 civilians.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The county attorney added that a video a civilian recorded with a phone captured Facio’s fatal injury from the side of the road and eventually would be released to the public. —Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 13 Aug. 2025

The videos - which one Palestinian source said were designed to show the terrible impact of restricted aid flows in Gaza - backfired, shutting down the growing sympathy in Israel towards civilians there. —Emily Rose, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025

Adjective

As always, the show features a mix of military and civilian performers. —Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025

Those who live close enough can return home to sleep, while others, whose civilian homes are farther from the capital, will stay in base facilities and hotels. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for civilian

• castilian
• cotillion
• pavilion
• postilion
• quadrillion
• reptilian
• vermilion
• vermillion
• billion
• million
• pillion
• trillion

Kids Definition

civilian

noun

ci·​vil·​ian sə-ˈvil-yən 

: a person not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force

civilian adjective

Legal Definition

civilian

1 of 2 noun

ci·​vil·​ian

: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law

civilian

2 of 2 adjective

: of or relating to civil law as distinguished from common law