civil
gb/sˈɪvəl/ us/sˈɪvəl/
B1
English
~ 1200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Polite and respectful
Acting in a polite and kind way to other people.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is civil to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'civil' with 'civic'. 'Civil' means polite or relating to citizens, while 'civic' relates to duties or activities of a city or community.
Synonyms
courteous (Slightly more formal; emphasizes manners and etiquette.)
Antonyms
rude (Shows a lack of politeness or respect.)
Collocations
civil conversation
|civil tone
|remain civil
|civil exchange
Themes
social
|communication
|behavior
|relationships
Examples
- Even during the heated debate, both sides remained civil.
- Please try to be civil when addressing the committee.
- They had a civil exchange despite their differences.
- She managed to stay civil, even though she was upset.
Learner examples
- He was civil to his neighbor.
- They spoke in a civil way.
- She is always civil to her teachers.
- We had a civil talk about the problem.
adjective
B2
property
2
Relating to citizens
About the people of a country and their lives, not the army or religion.
Usage pattern:
civil [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'civil' when they mean 'civic' for duties like voting; 'civil' here is broader and includes legal and societal matters.
Synonyms
civic (Often used for duties or responsibilities of citizens; overlaps in some contexts.)
Antonyms
military (Relating to armed forces rather than ordinary citizens.)
Collocations
civil rights
|civil society
|civil law
|civil unrest
Themes
law
|government
|society
|politics
Examples
- The new law aims to protect civil rights.
- Civil society plays an important role in democracy.
- He studied civil law at university.
- Civil unrest broke out after the election results.
Learner examples
- Civil rights are important for everyone.
- Civil law is different from criminal law.
- There were protests during the civil unrest.
- Civil society helps improve the country.
adjective
technical
B2
property
3
Relating to private law cases
About legal cases between people or companies, not about crimes.
Usage pattern:
civil [case/matter/dispute]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'civil law' (private law) with 'common law' or with criminal law; 'civil' here is about non-criminal disputes.
Synonyms
non-criminal (Plain description focusing on absence of criminal nature.)
Antonyms
criminal (Relating to crimes and their prosecution.)
Collocations
civil case
|civil court
|civil liability
|civil dispute
Themes
law
|business
Examples
- The company faced a civil lawsuit over breach of contract.
- She filed a civil case against her landlord.
- Civil liability can result in payment of damages.
- The dispute will be settled in civil court.
Learner examples
- They had a civil case about money.
- He went to civil court for the problem.
- A civil lawsuit is not about crime.
- She has civil liability for the damage.
adjective
B1
property
4
Within one country
Happening between groups in the same country.
Usage pattern:
civil [war/conflict/strife]
Synonyms
internal (General term for something happening within an entity or country.)
Antonyms
international (Involving more than one country.)
Collocations
civil war
|civil conflict
|civil strife
Themes
history
|politics
|law
Examples
- The nation was torn apart by civil war.
- Civil conflict lasted for over a decade.
- The peace treaty ended years of civil strife.
Learner examples
- The country had a civil war.
- Civil conflict is very bad for people.
- They want to stop the civil strife.
Grammar
Dictionary form
civil
IPA
GB/sˈɪvəl/
US/sˈɪvəl/
Syllables & stress
civil (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (civil)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: civil
- Comparative: civiller
- Superlative: civillest
Word family
Forms
civiller
adjective
civillest
adjective
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
uncivil
adjective
uncivilized
adjective
Advanced or less common
civilly
adverb
incivility
noun
Highlights
- Irregular comparative: civiller Adjective
- Irregular superlative: civillest Adjective
Expressions
civil liberties
1/sˈɪvəl lˈɪbɚtiz/
fixed phrase
Basic freedoms protected by law
The basic freedoms that people have, which are protected by law.
Examples
- Freedom of speech is one of our civil liberties.
- Civil liberties must be protected even in times of crisis.
civil rights
1/sˈɪvəl ɹˈaɪts/
fixed phrase
Rights ensuring freedom and equality
The basic rights that all citizens should have, like freedom and equal treatment.
Examples
- The movement fought for civil rights in the 1960s.
- Civil rights are protected by law.
civil society
1/sˈɪvəl səsˈaɪəti/
fixed phrase
formal
Non-government citizen groups and institutions
Groups and organizations run by people, not the government, that help with public life.
Examples
- Civil society plays a key role in promoting democracy.
- Strong civil society can hold leaders accountable.
civil war
1/sˈɪvəl wˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
War inside one country
A war between different groups in the same country.
Examples
- The Civil War in the United States lasted four years.
- A brutal civil war destroyed much of the nation.