civvy

or civ·y

[ siv-ee ]

noun

, plural civ·vies.

1. none civ·vies []. Also civies. civilian clothes.
2. a civilian.

civvy

/ ˈsɪvɪ /

noun

1. a civilian
2. plural civilian dress as opposed to uniform
3. civvy street
   civilian life

Word History and Origins

Origin of civvy¹

First recorded in 1885–90; civ(ilian) + -y ²

Example Sentences

I became an HR manager and fitted back into civvy street.

From BBC

“We need to find who they are, extract them from what they are doing, second them to civvy street” — referring to the nonmilitary world — “and attach them to firms.”

From New York Times

Mr Lewis said he struggled to cope with life on "civvy street" after leaving the Parachute Regiment and finding himself homeless.

From BBC

Reading the letter her great-grandfather received from a friend after they were both back on "civvy street", Miss Griffiths was struck by the similarities between what he was going through and what people are experiencing now.

From BBC

"To have this safety net of immunity from prosecution, I'd imagine nearly every single company in civvy street would love that… and I think it's a lame excuse in today's day and age," he says.

From BBC