civilian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral, used in formal, academic, legal, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “civilian” mean?
A person who is not an active member of the military, police, or firefighting forces.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is not an active member of the military, police, or firefighting forces.
A person who is not a member of a particular profession or specialized group; a layperson. In law, pertaining to non-military matters or organizations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. US usage may more frequently apply "civilian" to contrast with police force members in news contexts.
Connotations
Neutral. Can imply 'ordinary person' vs. 'authority figure' or 'specialist'. In military contexts, it can sometimes carry a subtle connotation of being outside the shared culture/experience.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties, especially in news, legal, and political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “civilian” in a Sentence
[the] civilian + noun (civilian casualties)adjective + civilian (innocent civilian)preposition + civilian (attack on civilians)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “civilian” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The regiment was accused of failing to protect civilians in the conflict zone.
- He left the navy and became a civilian again.
American English
- The new policy aims to reduce civilian casualties in drone strikes.
- As a civilian, she couldn't access the military base.
adverb
British English
- This word is not standardly used as an adverb.
- N/A
American English
- This word is not standardly used as an adverb.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- He was wearing civilian clothing when arrested.
- The agency has both military and civilian aviation experts.
American English
- She works for a civilian contractor for the Department of Defense.
- Civilian oversight of the police department is crucial.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to non-expert or end-user contexts, e.g., 'The software should be intuitive for civilian users.'
Academic
Used in political science, law, and international relations to discuss the principle of civilian control of the military or civilian casualties in conflict.
Everyday
Common in news reports: 'The bomb killed three soldiers and two civilians.' Also, 'After 20 years in the army, he struggled to adjust to civilian life.'
Technical
In law, 'civilian legal systems' refer to those based on Roman law (as opposed to common law). In aviation, a 'civilian aircraft' is a non-military plane.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “civilian”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “civilian”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “civilian”
- Using 'civil' as a noun to mean 'civilian' (Incorrect: 'The attack killed many civils.' Correct: '...many civilians.'). Confusing 'civilian' (non-military) with 'civil' (polite, or relating to citizens).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, commonly. E.g., 'civilian clothes', 'civilian government', 'civilian applications' of technology.
'Civil' is an adjective relating to citizens or ordinary community life (civil rights, civil war, civil engineer). 'Civilian' is primarily a noun (or attributive adjective) meaning a non-military/non-police person.
No. While most common in military/police contexts, it can metaphorically contrast any specialized group with the general public (e.g., 'This medical jargon is confusing for civilians').
The opposite depends on context: soldier/military personnel (military context), police officer (police context), combatant (legal/war context), or specialist/expert (metaphorical context).
A person who is not an active member of the military, police, or firefighting forces.
Civilian is usually neutral, used in formal, academic, legal, and everyday contexts. in register.
Civilian: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈvɪl.jən/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɪˈvɪl.jən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In civvies/civvies (British informal): dressed in civilian clothes, not in uniform.”
- “A civilian haircut: a standard haircut, as opposed to a military style.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CIVILian - relates to CIVIL society, not military society.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MILITARY/SPECIALIST WORLD IS A SEPARATE SPHERE (Civilians are outside this sphere).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'civilian' be LEAST appropriate?