civilian 1 of 2

noun

Definition of civiliannext
as in noncombatant

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

civilian

2 of 2

adjective

as in civil

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of civilian
Noun
In 2014, during his second term, President Barack Obama presented Streep with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can receive. — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026 Dagher also could not confirm who killed the civilian. — CBS News, 22 June 2026
Adjective
The response included patrol officers, the department’s behavior health response team and a civilian clinician, police said. — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026 Still, talks over a Saudi civilian nuclear program continued. — Marie-Rose Sheinerman, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for civilian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilian
  1. noncombatant
  2. civil
Noun
  • He wouldn’t be permitted to remain a noncombatant for very long.
    — Matthew Campbell, Bloomberg, 22 May 2026
  • Without going into detail, both treat war as the option of last resort, both try to limit reckless destruction of life and property and both try to minimize injury to noncombatants.
    — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Definition of noncombatant
Adjective
  • While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people!
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Bombardier has described the Global 8000 as the world’s fastest civil aircraft since Concorde.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
Definition of civil

Browse Nearby Words

civil disobedience
civilian
civilians
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Civilian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilian. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on civilian

Nglish: Translation of civilian for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about civilian

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inveigle

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All