civil

Definitions

1. adjective

   Relating to ordinary people and the government, not the army or church.

   Examples

   • She went into the civil service to help people.
   • Civil rights protect all citizens.
2. adjective

   Polite and calm.

   Examples

   • It was civil of him to stop the argument.
   • They dislike each other, but they are civil in public.
   ≠anti-civil≠impolite≠inconsiderate≠noncivil≠rude
3. adjective

   Peaceful and orderly.

   Examples

   • The protest stayed entirely civil.
   • The dispute was settled in a civil way.
4. adjective

   Relating to private matters between people, not crimes.

   Examples

   • She filed a civil suit against her old employer.
   • The case was heard in civil court.
5. adjective

   Not religious.

   Examples

   • They had a civil wedding at the town hall.
   • The civil laws are separate from the religious laws.
   ≈nonreligious≈temporal≈worldy≈areligious≈civil +12 more