noun / adjective
civilian
suh-VIL-ee-uhn/səˈvɪliən/
A person not serving in the military or police, or relating to such people.
A civilian in casual clothes walks past uniformed military personnel.
Etymology
Built on civilis, the word first named an authority on civil law. Its later sense shifted to someone whose life and pursuits were outside military or clerical service, establishing the modern contrast with service personnel.
In context
I'm going to be sharing my personal Journey from a civilian to becoming an army officer
More examples
- The police department hires civilians to handle its records.
- He returns to civilian life after leaving the Army.
- The shelter provides food and water to displaced civilians.
Forms
civilian · civilians
Similar words
- nonmilitary
- Nonmilitary excludes armed forces but can still include police.
- noncombatant
- Noncombatant means not fighting and can include military personnel.