civil war
noun
plural civil wars
: a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country
a country on the brink of (a) civil war
—often used in the capitalized names of specific warsthe Spanish Civil War
(American/U.S.) Civil War monuments
Note: The American Civil War, fought 1861–1865 between the United States and 11 southern states that had seceded from it, is also commonly known as the U.S. Civil War, or especially in the U.S. as the War Between the States or simply the Civil War.
Examples of civil war in a Sentence
a region that has had many civil wars
The country is on the brink of civil war.
Recent Examples on the Web
What to know about the complex, long-simmering civil war
Dearlove served as Britain's top spy between 1999 and 2004, when Tony Blair was prime minister.
—
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Texas Republicans are bracing for an explosive Senate primary next year in the latest chapter of an ongoing civil war that has divided the state party.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025
At least 3,550 people died and nearly 5,000 others were injured when the earthquake hit the impoverished Southeast Asian nation – which has already endured years of civil war since a military coup in 2021, leaving nearly 20 million people in need of aid.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
One fan who appears in the clip recalled finding solace in Metallica’s music while growing up in civil war.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil war
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Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Texas Republicans are bracing for an explosive Senate primary next year in the latest chapter of an ongoing civil war that has divided the state party.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025
At least 3,550 people died and nearly 5,000 others were injured when the earthquake hit the impoverished Southeast Asian nation – which has already endured years of civil war since a military coup in 2021, leaving nearly 20 million people in need of aid.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
One fan who appears in the clip recalled finding solace in Metallica’s music while growing up in civil war.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil war
Cite this Entry
“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20war. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
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