civil
adjective
civ·il ˈsi-vəl 
1
a
: of or relating to citizens
civil duties
b
: of or relating to the state or its citizenry
civil strife
2
a
: civilized
civil society
b
: adequate in courtesy and politeness : mannerly
a civil question
It was hard to be civil when I felt so angry.
3
a
: of, relating to, or based on civil law
b
: relating to private rights and to remedies sought by action or suit distinct from criminal proceedings
c
: established by law
civil freedoms
4
: of, relating to, or involving the general public, their activities, needs, or ways, or civic affairs as distinguished from special (such as military or religious) affairs
got married in a civil ceremony
5
of time : based on the theoretical mean sun and legally recognized for use in ordinary affairs
the civil calendar
Esoteric and sometimes outlandish balloons were floated: If we're not going to worry about civil time matching solar time, for instance, why not simplify global timekeeping even more by reducing the number of global time zones from twenty-four to five?
Michelle Stacey
Michelle Stacey
Synonyms
- national
- public
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They got married in a civil ceremony at city hall. It was hard to be civil when I felt so angry. She was barely civil to me.
Recent Examples on the Web Those are independent civil-society organizations with no ties to specific states. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 But the unity between pro-independence political parties and the civil society groups that led the October 2017 independence push, which received no international support and was quickly quashed, is in danger of falling apart. Joseph Wilson, ajc, 11 Sep. 2022 This was the first step in a fight of many years to achieve justice and build a civil society. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2022 That led to a swell in back-channel campaigns — including letters from civil society, civilians and governments on both sides of the issue. Jamey Keaten And Edith Lederer, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 As leader, Putin has crushed the media and civil society, returned to totalitarianism, installed former KGB and other security officials in key positions, destroyed nongovernmental organizations, invaded Ukraine, and isolated Russia from the West. Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 But Gorbachev introduced competitive elections, civil society, and the rule of law. Evgeny Lebedev, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2022 The voters’ roll is also packed with the names of dead people, opposition groups and civil society groups say. Lynsey Chutel, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022 In the old days, our debates were about the power and responsibilities of government versus the rights and responsibilities of individuals (and communities and civil society). Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Aug. 2022 See More
Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 But the unity between pro-independence political parties and the civil society groups that led the October 2017 independence push, which received no international support and was quickly quashed, is in danger of falling apart. Joseph Wilson, ajc, 11 Sep. 2022 This was the first step in a fight of many years to achieve justice and build a civil society. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2022 That led to a swell in back-channel campaigns — including letters from civil society, civilians and governments on both sides of the issue. Jamey Keaten And Edith Lederer, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 As leader, Putin has crushed the media and civil society, returned to totalitarianism, installed former KGB and other security officials in key positions, destroyed nongovernmental organizations, invaded Ukraine, and isolated Russia from the West. Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 But Gorbachev introduced competitive elections, civil society, and the rule of law. Evgeny Lebedev, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2022 The voters’ roll is also packed with the names of dead people, opposition groups and civil society groups say. Lynsey Chutel, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022 In the old days, our debates were about the power and responsibilities of government versus the rights and responsibilities of individuals (and communities and civil society). Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin civilis, from civis — see civic
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing civil
Kids Definition
civil
adjective
civ·il ˈsi-vəl
1
: of or relating to citizens
civil rights
2
: of or relating to matters within a country
3
: of or relating to the regular business of citizens or government that is not connected to the military or a religion
4
: polite without being friendly
Those men, they used to be best friends. Now they can't be civil with each other. Karen Hesse, Out of the Dust
Karen Hesse, Out of the Dust5
: relating to laws about private rights rather than criminal laws
She brought a civil lawsuit against the maker of the defective car.
Legal Definition
civil
adjective
civ·il ˈsi-vəl
1
: concerning, befitting, or applying to individual citizens or to citizens as a whole
a civil duty
see also civil right 2
: marked by public order : peaceable in behavior
3
: of or relating to a legal system based on Roman law as opposed to the English common law
4
: relating to private rights and to judicial proceedings in connection with them
especially : relating to legal matters other than those characterized as criminal
a civil action
a civil infraction
5
: defined by law : legal
a civil disability
6
: of, relating to, or involving the general public, their activities, needs, ways, or civic affairs as distinguished from special (as military or religious) affairs
the civil authorities
the civil service
civil
adjective
1
as in national
of or relating to a nation the country was not destroyed by outside enemies but by a series of civil wars Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- national
- federal
- government
- public
- municipal
- governmental
- civic
- democratic
- internal
- republican
- domestic
- nationwide
- intestine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- international
- global
- foreign
- nonnational
- external
- alien
2
as in polite
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners please try to be civil to your ex-husband at the upcoming family wedding Synonyms & Similar Words
- polite
- gracious
- respectful
- civilized
- thoughtful
- genteel
- courteous
- careful
- friendly
- respectable
- nice
- mannerly
- gallant
- pleasant
- ceremonial
- graceful
- formal
- elegant
- well-bred
- gentlemanly
- appropriate
- chivalrous
- good
- attentive
- humble
- solicitous
- urbane
- decorous
- proper
- ceremonious
- considerate
- decent
- ladylike
- smooth
- acceptable
- meek
- suitable
- deferential
- suave
- hospitable
- dutiful
- cordial
- courtly
- genial
- gentlemanlike
- right
- sociable
- correct
- befitting
- fitting
- submissive
- unctuous
- refined
- affable
- felicitous
- red-carpet
- becoming
- couth
- fit
- demure
- seemly
- meet
- modest
- yielding
- unassertive
- comme il faut
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- uncivil
- thoughtless
- discourteous
- rude
- thoughtless
- ungracious
- impolite
- inconsiderate
- unmannerly
- unmannered
- ungenteel
- heedless
- disrespectful
- insolent
- informal
- inconsiderate
- impudent
- impertinent
- casual
- saucy
- bold
- vulgar
- shameless
- brassy
- brash
- boorish
- audacious
- clownish
- improper
- uncouth
- mannerless
- loutish
- churlish
- inappropriate
- ill-mannered
- indecent
- ill-bred
- indecorous
- unseemly
- arrogant
- incorrect
- unceremonious
- lippy
- unrespectable
- clodhopping
- pretentious
- presumptuous
- conceited
- presuming
- bold-faced
- uncalled-for
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of civil are chivalrous, courteous, gallant, and polite. While all these words mean "observant of the forms required by good breeding," civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.
owed the questioner a civil reply
In some situations, the words chivalrous and civil are roughly equivalent. However, chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.
a chivalrous display of duty
The words courteous and civil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.
clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers
Both gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. Gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.
a gallant suitor of the old school
The words polite and civil can be used in similar contexts, but polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.
if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite