plural civets
1
: a wild animal that is like a cat and that has a long body, short legs, and a long tail
Note: Civets live in parts of Africa, southern Europe, and Asia.
called also civet cat
2
: a substance from the body of the civet that has a strong smell and is sometimes used to make perfume
Cite this Entry
“Civet.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/civet. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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