civil service

noun

1. those branches of public service concerned with all governmental administrative functions outside the armed services.
2. the body of persons employed in these branches.
3. a system or method of appointing government employees on the basis of competitive examinations, rather than by political patronage.

civil service

noun

1. the service responsible for the public administration of the government of a country. It excludes the legislative, judicial, and military branches. Members of the civil service have no official political allegiance and are not generally affected by changes of governments
2. the members of the civil service collectively

civil service

1. The nonmilitary personnel who work for a government, applying its laws and regulations.

Word History and Origins

Origin of civil service¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

There are, still, 2 million civil service employees, a number that seems ginormous until you remember, as Moynihan told me, that that number hasn’t grown appropriately in relation to the population, economy, and other factors since 1960.

From Slate

The executive document also notes that the pay guidelines for the civil service in Great Britain will allow "an average pay award of up to 5%" there.

From BBC

The pay dispute could also spread to include the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

From BBC

Ms Gray, who became a household name after leading the government's internal inquiry into the Partygate scandal, left the civil service to become a senior adviser to Sir Keir last year.

From BBC

Homan’s work won him the Presidential Rank Award, the highest civil service recognition.

From BBC

Related Words

• administration
• authority
• management
• ministry
• red tape