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
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
Josh HarkinsonExamples of civilian in a Sentence
Noun
The bomb injured 12 civilians.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Last year was the deadliest for civilians in Ukraine since the invasion and nearly 6 million Ukrainians still live abroad as war refugees, according to the United Nations.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
It is also being reviewed by the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board, the county’s civilian oversight body.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civilian
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Noun
Employees at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Coast Guard civilians are also being hit hard.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Last year was the deadliest for civilians in Ukraine since the invasion and nearly 6 million Ukrainians still live abroad as war refugees, according to the United Nations.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Russia denies deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
It is also being reviewed by the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board, the county’s civilian oversight body.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civilian
Cite this Entry
“Civilian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilian. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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