Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Civilian

Ci-vil′ian

,
Noun.
[From
Civil
]
1.
One skilled in the civil law.
Ancient
civilians
and writers upon government.
Swift.
2.
A student of the civil law at a university or college.
R. Graves.
3.
One whose pursuits are those of civil life, not military or clerical.

Webster 1828 Edition


Civilian

CIVILIAN

,
Noun.
[from civil.]
1.
One who is skilled in the Roman law; a professor or doctor of civil law.
2.
In a more extended sense, one who is versed in law and government.
3.
A student of the civil law at the university.

Definition 2024


civilian

civilian

English

Noun

civilian (plural civilians)

  1. A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the armed forces.
    Three civilians were apprehended by the soldiers and taken away in a military vehicle.
  2. (informal) A person who does not belong to a particular group or engage in a particular activity.
  3. One skilled in civil law.
    • Jonathan Swift
      Ancient civilians and writers upon government.
  4. A student of civil law at a university or college.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of R. Graves to this entry?)

Translations

Adjective

civilian (not comparable)

  1. Not related to the military, police or other professions.
    The three detainees were actually army defectors wearing civilian clothing.
    He worked as a civilian journalist for ten years before being employed by the public broadcaster.

Translations