Meaning of civil In English

• 0 not military or religious, or relating to the ordinary people of a country:

  • Helicopters are mainly used for military rather than civil use.

  • After ten years of military dictatorship, the country now has a civil government.

  • We weren't married in church, but we had a civil ceremony in a registry office.

• 1 relating to private arguments between people or organizations rather than criminal matters:

  • The matter would be better dealt with in the civil court rather than by an expensive criminal proceeding.

• 2 polite and formal:

  • His manner was civil, though not particularly friendly.

• 3 of or relating to the ordinary people of a country, rather than members of religious organizations or the military:

  • These helicopters are for rescue and other civil use.

  • We were married in a civil ceremony.

  • civil court

• 4 polite and formal:

  • We were civil to each other, but we were both still angry.

• 5 relating to legal disagreements between people or businesses, rather than criminal activities:

  • civil action/lawsuit/case, etc. The Chapter 11 action suspended a civil trial in which two plaintiffs sought compensation totaling more than $160 million.