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 Word Forms

• 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 UN secretary general pointed out that under international humanitarian law, an occupying power had obligations to ensure relief for the civilian population.

From BBC

As the Brennan Center explains, “The statute…is the primary exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, under which federal military forces are generally barred from participating in civilian law enforcement activities.”

From Salon

Extra tents have been added outside Tawila's only hospital which is "already overwhelmed", says Ms Ramstein, and many more civilians are still arriving with gunshot wounds and other emergencies.

From BBC

When asked in 2023 by a reporter if she would return to acting at some point, she replied: "I don't think so, it's too nice being a civilian."

From BBC

Trump's comments come after widespread outrage over Russia's attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, which was the deadliest Russian attack on civilians this year.

From BBC

Related Words

• private