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
Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
As The Associated Press reports, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 54,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children per Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not identify how many were civilians or combatants.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2025
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 June 2025
But as the scope of destruction and civilian suffering has grown, so have the voices of condemnation in the Middle East and around the world, leading to growing signs of political and economic pressure, including from friendly parties, above all the United States.
—Assaf Orion, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
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Noun
The war in Gaza Israel’s war in Gaza began when Hamas stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others.
—Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
As The Associated Press reports, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 54,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children per Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not identify how many were civilians or combatants.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2025
Adjective
It was surgically designed to affect exclusively Russian military hardware, hardware of the sort that Russia has been using to mount its own strikes on Ukraine, far less scrupulously aware of civilian casualties.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 June 2025
But as the scope of destruction and civilian suffering has grown, so have the voices of condemnation in the Middle East and around the world, leading to growing signs of political and economic pressure, including from friendly parties, above all the United States.
—Assaf Orion, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for civilian
Cite this Entry
“Civilian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilian. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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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