Civilian — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /sə-ˈvil-yən/ ci·vil·ian

Meaning & Definition of Civilian

Civilian (noun)

  1. a specialist in Roman or modern civil law
  2. one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force
  3. outsider

Civilian (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or made up of civilians
  2. having the status of a civilian
  3. operated or controlled by civilians, possessed by or vested in civilians

Civilian (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in noncombatant

    similar: noncombatant
    opposite: belligerent, combatant, dogface, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms, regular, serviceman, soldier, trooper, warrior, servicewoman

Civilian (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in civil

    similar: civil, nonmilitary
    opposite: martial, military, service, naval, GI, gladiatorial, mercenary, soldierly

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Civilian

The most common words with a similar meaning to Civilian:

noncombatant, civil, nonmilitary

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Civilian

Words with the opposite meaning of Civilian:

belligerent, combatant, dogface, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms, regular, serviceman, soldier, trooper, warrior, servicewoman, martial, military, service, naval, GI, gladiatorial, mercenary, soldierly

Origin & Etymology of Civilian

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Civilian

Frequently Asked Questions about Civilian

What does "Civilian" mean?

"Civilian" means a specialist in Roman or modern civil law. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Civilian"?

Other words for "Civilian" include noncombatant, civil and nonmilitary. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Civilian" you intend.

What is the opposite of "Civilian"?

Antonyms of "Civilian" include belligerent, combatant, dogface, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms and regular.

Is "Civilian" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Civilian" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Civilian" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Civilian" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Civilian"?

"Civilian" is pronounced /sə-ˈvil-yən/ and divided into syllables as ci·vil·ian.

What is the origin of the word "Civilian"?

First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Civilian" meaning "as in noncombatant"?

When "Civilian" (noun) means as in noncombatant, synonyms include noncombatant. Opposites in this sense include belligerent, combatant, dogface and fighter.