civilian

[ si-vil-yuhn ]

noun

1. a person who is not on active duty with a military, naval, police, or fire fighting organization.
2. Informal. anyone regarded by members of a profession, interest group, society, etc., as not belonging; nonprofessional; outsider:

   We need a producer to run the movie studio, not some civilian from the business world.

3. a person versed in or studying Roman or civil law.

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, formed by, or administered by civilians.

civilian

/ sɪˈvɪljən /

noun

1. 1. a person whose primary occupation is civil or nonmilitary
   2. ( as modifier )

      civilian life

Other Words From

• anti·ci·vilian adjective
• nonci·vilian noun
• proci·vilian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of civilian¹

1350–1400; Middle English: student of civil law < Old French civilien (adj.); civil, -ian

Word History and Origins

Origin of civilian¹

C14 (originally: a practitioner of civil law): from civile (from the Latin phrase jūs cīvīle civil law) + -ian

Example Sentences

The decision by a panel of judges cited what it said were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant’s acts encompassed a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.”

From Los Angeles Times

It also found reasonable grounds to believe that “each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population”.

From BBC

Slava, who appears in the film, is both a ceramist and a member of a Ukraine special forces unit who gives weapons training to civilians turned soldiers.

From New York Times

He told us that our information was “false” and that he ran “a business supplying exclusively civilian goods manufactured in Asian countries”.

From BBC

One of campaigners' main concerns in regards to landmines is the danger these weapons present to civilians, killing indiscriminately as they are buried underground or scattered on the surface.

From BBC

Related Words

• private