CIVIL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does civil mean? 

• CIVIL (adjective)
  The adjective CIVIL has 6 senses:

1. applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military

2. not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others

3. of or occurring within the state or between or among citizens of the state

4. of or relating to or befitting citizens as individuals

5. (of divisions of time) legally recognized in ordinary affairs of life

6. of or in a condition of social order

  Familiarity information: CIVIL used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CIVIL (adjective)

Comparative: civiller   
Superlative: civillest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military

Context example:

civil authorities

Similar:

civilian (associated with civil life or performed by persons who are not active members of the military)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others

Synonyms:

civil; polite

Context example:

even if he didn't like them he should have been civil

Attribute:

civility (formal or perfunctory politeness)

Antonym:

uncivil (lacking civility or good manners)

Derivation:

civility (the act of showing regard for others)

civility (formal or perfunctory politeness)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of or occurring within the state or between or among citizens of the state

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

civil branches of government

Pertainym:

state (a politically organized body of people under a single government)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Of or relating to or befitting citizens as individuals

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

civic; civil

Context example:

civic pride

Pertainym:

citizen (a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community)

Sense 5

Meaning:

(of divisions of time) legally recognized in ordinary affairs of life

Context example:

a civil day begins at mean midnight

Antonym:

sidereal ((of divisions of time) determined by daily motion of the stars)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Of or in a condition of social order

Context example:

civil peoples

Similar:

civilised; civilized (having a high state of culture and development both social and technological)

 Context examples 

All this spoken extremely fast obliged Miss Bates to stop for breath; and Emma said something very civil about the excellence of Miss Fairfax's handwriting.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

These civil commotions were constantly fomented by the monarchs of Blefuscu; and when they were quelled, the exiles always fled for refuge to that empire.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Elinor made her a civil reply, and they walked on for a few minutes in silence.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

In desperation, all but ready to surrender, to make a truce with fate until he could get a fresh start, he took the civil service examinations for the Railway Mail.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A civil servant she had withstood; but when Dr.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

There, you are less than civil now; and I like rudeness a great deal better than flattery.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

But it was not so bad as that, Isabella; there was no superciliousness; she was very civil.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Make a civil message; but I shall only leave my card.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

For myself, my Canterbury Pilgrimage has done much; imprisonment on civil process, and want, will soon do more.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I'll do anything for you, Jo, if you'll only dress yourself nicely, and come and help me do the civil.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)