civic
gb/sˈɪvɪk/ us/sˈɪvɪk/
B1
English
~ 6100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
B2
property
1
relating to a town or city government
About the government, services, or public life of a town or city.
Usage pattern:
civic [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "civic" with "civil." "Civic" is usually used for things related to a city or its citizens (civic center, civic leaders), while "civil" is used for things related to private life, law, or polite behavior (civil law, civil rights, civil behavior).
Synonyms
municipal (Very close in meaning; more strictly about the official government of a city or town.)
|
urban (Focuses on the city as a physical or social place, not specifically its government and institutions.)
Antonyms
rural (Describes areas outside towns and cities, so it contrasts with city-based public life and institutions.)
Collocations
civic center
|civic leaders
|civic life
|civic institutions
|civic infrastructure
|civic administration
Themes
politics
|society
|urban life
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new mayor promised major investments in civic infrastructure over the next decade.
- The concert will be held at the downtown civic center on Saturday night.
- Effective civic administration requires transparency and accountability.
- Local taxes help pay for many civic services, such as libraries and public transportation.
- The award recognizes people who have made outstanding contributions to civic life in the city.
Learner examples
- The city is planning a new civic center near the train station.
- Good roads and clean parks are part of civic services.
- Many people went to the meeting to talk about civic problems.
- The city wants to improve civic buildings like the library and museum.
adjective
formal
B2
property
2
relating to citizens’ duties or rights
About what people should do as good citizens, and how they take part in public and political life.
Usage pattern:
civic [abstract noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "social" instead of "civic" (for example, *social duty* instead of *civic duty*). "Social" is broader and can describe any relationships between people, while "civic" specifically focuses on people as citizens and their role in public or political life.
Synonyms
civil (Overlaps in talking about citizens and society, but more often refers to legal status (civil rights) or non-military matters.)
|
public-spirited (Focuses on the personal attitude of caring for the community, not on formal duties or structures.)
Antonyms
apathetic (Describes a lack of interest or involvement in public or political life, opposite of active civic engagement.)
Collocations
civic duty
|civic responsibility
|civic engagement
|civic participation
|civic education
|civic pride
Themes
politics
|education
|society
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Voting is widely seen as a basic civic duty in a democracy.
- The school runs a program on civic education to teach students how government works.
- Her volunteer work is an example of strong civic responsibility.
- The campaign aims to increase civic engagement among young adults.
- A healthy democracy depends on citizens having a sense of civic pride and belonging.
Learner examples
- Many people think it is a civic duty to vote.
- The class on civic education teaches students about elections.
- He shows strong civic responsibility by helping in local projects.
- The group works to increase civic participation in local elections.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Honda Civic car model
A small car made by Honda, called the Civic.
Usage pattern:
a Civic; the Honda Civic
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that in this meaning "Civic" is a brand name and should be capitalized in writing ("Civic," not "civic") and often used with the company name ("Honda Civic").
Synonyms
Honda Civic (The full brand name; identical in meaning but more explicit and always written with both words capitalized.)
Antonyms
truck (A very different type of vehicle, often larger and used for carrying goods, unlike a compact passenger car like a Civic.)
Collocations
drive a Civic
|buy a Civic
|Honda Civic
|used Civic
|new Civic
Themes
transport
|daily life
|transportation
|business
|daily_life
Examples
- She traded in her old car and bought a new Civic last year.
- The Honda Civic is known for its reliability and good fuel economy.
- He learned to drive in his parents’ Civic.
- They compared the price of a Civic with several other compact cars before deciding.
Learner examples
- He wants to buy a used Civic.
- My friend drives a blue Civic.
- The Civic is smaller than my father’s truck.
- They looked at a Civic and a different small car at the shop.
Grammar
Dictionary form
civic
IPA
GB/sˈɪvɪk/
US/sˈɪvɪk/
Syllables & stress
civic (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (civic)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: civic
Word family
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
uncivil
adjective
incivility
noun
Advanced or less common
civilize
verb
civilization
noun B2
Expressions
civic center
1/sˈɪvɪk sˈɛntɚ/
fixed phrase
public building for community events
A big public building in a town or city where people can go for events, shows, or meetings.
Examples
- The conference will be held at the downtown civic center.
- They went to a concert at the new civic center last night.
civic duty
1/sˈɪvɪk dˈuti/
fixed phrase
formal
responsibility of a citizen
The things a person should do as a good citizen, like voting or following the law.
Examples
- Many people see paying taxes as a civic duty.
- Jury service is an important civic duty in some countries.
civic education
1/sˈɪvɪk ˌɛd͡ʒəkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
education about citizenship and government
Teaching people, especially students, how government works and what their rights and duties are as citizens.
Examples
- Schools are strengthening civic education to prepare students for democratic participation.
- Good civic education can help reduce political misinformation.
civic engagement
1/sˈɪvɪk ɪŋɡˈeɪd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
active involvement in public life
When citizens actively take part in public or community life, for example by voting, protesting, or volunteering.
Examples
- The organization works to increase civic engagement among young voters.
- High levels of civic engagement are a sign of a healthy democracy.
civic leaders
1/sˈɪvɪk lˈidɚz/
fixed phrase
formal
leaders in public community life
People who have important roles in leading public life in a town or city, such as mayors or community organizers.
Examples
- Civic leaders met to discuss the city’s long-term plan.
- Local civic leaders supported the campaign to improve public transport.
civic life
1/sˈɪvɪk lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
formal
public and community life
The parts of life that are about your community and government, not just your private life.
Examples
- The newspaper plays an important role in the city’s civic life.
- Immigrants are encouraged to take part in civic life as soon as possible.
civic participation
1/sˈɪvɪk pɑɹtˌɪsəpˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
citizens taking part in public activities
When people join in activities that affect their community or government, such as voting or going to meetings.
Examples
- Online tools have made civic participation easier for many people.
- Low civic participation can weaken local democracy.
civic pride
1/sˈɪvɪk pɹˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
formal
pride in one’s community
A good feeling that people have about their town or city, because they are happy to live there.
Examples
- The clean streets are a sign of strong civic pride.
- The festival was created to build civic pride among residents.
civic responsibility
1/sˈɪvɪk ɹispˌɑnsɪbˈɪləti/
fixed phrase
formal
obligations of a citizen
The things a person should do to help their community or country, such as obeying laws and helping others.
Examples
- Teaching children about civic responsibility helps prepare them to be good citizens.
- He feels a strong sense of civic responsibility and volunteers every weekend.
civic values
1/sˈɪvɪk vˈæljuz/
fixed phrase
formal
shared beliefs about citizenship
Ideas that people in a community share about how citizens should act, such as being fair and taking part in public life.
Examples
- The program aims to strengthen civic values like tolerance and respect for the law.
- Schools play a major role in passing on civic values to young people.