ci·vil·ian
sə-ˈvil-yən 
also -ˈvi-yən
1
: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law
2
a
: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force
b
1
a
: of, relating to, or made up of civilians
civilian concerns/demands
the civilian population
civilian customers/casualties
The Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the highest civilian honors in the United States.
b
: having the status of a civilian
a civilian pilot
2
: operated or controlled by civilians
civilian industry
: possessed by or vested in civilians
civilian authority
3
: intended or suited for use or consumption by civilians
civilian goods
With twin 2,520-horsepower engines and up to 19 seats, the Sikorsky S-92 is among the world's most powerful civilian helicopters.—
Josh Harkinson
Josh HarkinsonExamples of civilian in a Sentence
Noun
The bomb injured 12 civilians.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Israel reports killing over 2,000 Hezbollah fighters, while casualties on the Israeli side include 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians due to rocket and drone attacks, as well as ground combat in Lebanon.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Reuters, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
The women called rescue services to say they were buried by debris for seven hours after the attack late Tuesday in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s Emergency Services said, as deadly Russian strikes on civilian areas continue in the almost three-year war.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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Noun
The numbers don’t differentiate between civilians and combatants, but officials say more than half the dead are women and children.
—Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Israel reports killing over 2,000 Hezbollah fighters, while casualties on the Israeli side include 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians due to rocket and drone attacks, as well as ground combat in Lebanon.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Both have targeted densely populated civilian areas.
—Reuters, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
The women called rescue services to say they were buried by debris for seven hours after the attack late Tuesday in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s Emergency Services said, as deadly Russian strikes on civilian areas continue in the almost three-year war.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for civilian
Dictionary Entries Near civilian
Cite this Entry
“Civilian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilian. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
civilian
noun
ci·vil·ian
sə-ˈvil-yən
: a person not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force
civilian
adjective
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