civ·il 
/ˈsɪvəl/ adjective
/ˈsɪvəl/ adjective 1 always used before a noun : of or relating to the people who live in a country
▪ civil liberties/duties ▪ a period of civil unrest [=a time when groups of people in a country fight one another] — see also civil disobedience, civil war 2 always used before a noun : of or relating to the regular business of the people in a city, town, state, etc. : not connected to the military or to a religion
▪ They got married in a civil ceremony at city hall. ▪ civil institutions 3 not used before a noun [more civil; most civil] : polite but not friendly : only as polite as a person needs to be in order to not be rude
▪ It was hard to be civil when I felt so angry. ▪ She was barely civil to me. — opposite uncivil 4 [more civil; most civil] : caring about art, science, government, people's well-being, etc.
▪ She argues that a civil [=(more commonly) civilized] society takes care of its weakest members. — opposite uncivil 5 always used before a noun, law : relating to laws that describe a person's rights rather than to laws about crime
▪ The couple filed a civil suit against the company that made the crib. ▪ civil cases ▪ rules of civil procedure — compare 1criminal 2; see also civil law, civil liberty, civil rights
▪ civil liberties/duties ▪ a period of civil unrest [=a time when groups of people in a country fight one another] — see also civil disobedience, civil war
▪ They got married in a civil ceremony at city hall. ▪ civil institutions
▪ It was hard to be civil when I felt so angry. ▪ She was barely civil to me. — opposite uncivil
▪ She argues that a civil [=(more commonly) civilized] society takes care of its weakest members. — opposite uncivil
▪ The couple filed a civil suit against the company that made the crib. ▪ civil cases ▪ rules of civil procedure — compare 1criminal 2; see also civil law, civil liberty, civil rights
— civ·il·ly /ˈsɪvəli/ adverb
▪ The couple couldn't even discuss things civilly [=politely] anymore. ▪ “Thank you for helping me, sir,” she said civilly.
/ˈsɪvəli/ adverb ▪ The couple couldn't even discuss things civilly [=politely] anymore. ▪ “Thank you for helping me, sir,” she said civilly.
