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 WebKyle Denis, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2024
The region is also difficult to access, leaving many civilians displaced and facing famine.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
The review team addressed several other issues, substantiating testimony from rank-and-file troops who observed Taliban fighters outside the airport abusing and killing civilians attempting to flee the country.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Before Iran’s attack, that support was weakening over Israel’s punishing assault on Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian civilians there.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2024
The United Nations has tried for more than a decade to advance drone non-proliferation efforts that could include limits such as forbidding the targeting of civilians or banning the use of swarms for ethnic cleansing.
—Frank Bajak, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Israel must destroy Hamas as a military and political force in the territory while minimizing harm to civilians.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
While a majority of New Empire takes place in the largely CGI Hollow Earth, some scenes show buildings being decimated and civilians running away to avoid being stepped on.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Israel was telling civilians in the area to move south, to Rafah, on the border with Egypt, or risk being killed.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
The Iranian unmanned vehicles that were directed at Israeli targets have found more success in Ukraine, where the Russian military has used them to wreak havoc on civilian centers.
—The Editors, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
The defense questioned the handling of Waddell’s body after she was pronounced dead when prosecutors called to the stand a civilian investigator who was with Joshua police at the time.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
The bill also clarifies limits to the powers of local civilian police oversight boards.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
The package exploded about 7:43 p.m., killing nine police officers and civilian Catherine Ruby Walker, who had been in the station making a complaint.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
On Wednesday, the City Council is scheduled to vote on another package of employee pay hikes negotiated by Bass — this time with thousands of civilian employees.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
But according to Emily Tripp, director of the civilian casualty watchdog group Airwars, the IDF’s tolerance for civilian casualties appears considerably higher than in past campaigns in Gaza and than the level accepted by other militaries in recent conflicts.
—Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
The field hospital was created after Israeli civilian hospitals declined to admit Gazan detainees or terror suspects, according to a report from the non-profit organization Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.
—Lauren Kent, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Noun
Trending on Billboard Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a devastating war has been raging across Gaza and the West Bank, killing and injuring untold thousands of civilians.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2024
The region is also difficult to access, leaving many civilians displaced and facing famine.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
The review team addressed several other issues, substantiating testimony from rank-and-file troops who observed Taliban fighters outside the airport abusing and killing civilians attempting to flee the country.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Before Iran’s attack, that support was weakening over Israel’s punishing assault on Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian civilians there.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2024
The United Nations has tried for more than a decade to advance drone non-proliferation efforts that could include limits such as forbidding the targeting of civilians or banning the use of swarms for ethnic cleansing.
—Frank Bajak, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Israel must destroy Hamas as a military and political force in the territory while minimizing harm to civilians.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
While a majority of New Empire takes place in the largely CGI Hollow Earth, some scenes show buildings being decimated and civilians running away to avoid being stepped on.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Israel was telling civilians in the area to move south, to Rafah, on the border with Egypt, or risk being killed.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The war: On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel that included the taking of civilian hostages at a music festival.
—Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
The Iranian unmanned vehicles that were directed at Israeli targets have found more success in Ukraine, where the Russian military has used them to wreak havoc on civilian centers.
—The Editors, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
The defense questioned the handling of Waddell’s body after she was pronounced dead when prosecutors called to the stand a civilian investigator who was with Joshua police at the time.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
The bill also clarifies limits to the powers of local civilian police oversight boards.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
The package exploded about 7:43 p.m., killing nine police officers and civilian Catherine Ruby Walker, who had been in the station making a complaint.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
On Wednesday, the City Council is scheduled to vote on another package of employee pay hikes negotiated by Bass — this time with thousands of civilian employees.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
But according to Emily Tripp, director of the civilian casualty watchdog group Airwars, the IDF’s tolerance for civilian casualties appears considerably higher than in past campaigns in Gaza and than the level accepted by other militaries in recent conflicts.
—Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
The field hospital was created after Israeli civilian hospitals declined to admit Gazan detainees or terror suspects, according to a report from the non-profit organization Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.
—Lauren Kent, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civilian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near civilian
Cite this Entry
“Civilian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilian. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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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