Civil
/ˈsɪvəl/
Definitions
2 meaningsRelating to the citizens of a country; polite and well-mannered.
/ˈsɪvəl/
Relating to citizens and their concerns.
He behaved in a civil manner during the argument.
💡 Simply: Civil means being polite and respectful like a good citizen. If you're civil to someone, you treat them kindly, even if you disagree.
👶 For kids: Being nice and polite to others.
More Examples
The civil war devastated the country.
How It's Used
"Civil liberties are fundamental to a democratic society."
"Civil law deals with disputes between individuals."
Relating to the people of a country, as opposed to military or religious matters.
/ˈsɪvəl/
Non-military; relating to the ordinary affairs of citizens.
Civil aviation is strictly regulated.
💡 Simply: Civil means not military, like a 'civil engineer' who builds bridges and roads, not tanks or missiles.
👶 For kids: Not about soldiers or the army.
More Examples
The civil rights movement made great strides in the fight for equality.
How It's Used
"Civil engineers are needed to rebuild the infrastructure."
From Latin *civilis*, from civis "citizen". Meaning relating to citizens or the state.
The word 'civil' has consistently held connotations of citizenship and social order throughout history, evolving from its Latin roots.
Memory tip
Think 'city' - civil laws govern cities and citizens.
Word Origin
"citizen"