civil guard
Non-military police force
A civil guard is a police or paramilitary force responsible for maintaining public order, typically organized along military lines but focused on domestic security rather than external defense.
Spain's Guardia Civil is the most prominent example—a national gendarmerie handling rural policing, border control, and counterterrorism.
The term sometimes appears generically for any civilian defense or security force.
- policeCivil law enforcement
- law enforcementUpholding legal codes
- constabularyOrganized law enforcement body
- night watchmanOvernight security guard
- neighborhood watchResident-led area surveillance
sheriff · traffic cop · riot police · mounted police · auxiliary · cadet · jurisdiction · inspector · peacekeeper · public safety · gendarmerie · ranger · reservist · patrol · sentinel · detective · scout · officer
civil guardregular army
Nation's permanent military force
army · military · armed forces · standing army · combat troops
civil guardinsurgents
Those fighting established authority
irregular forces · militia · paramilitary · private army · mercenaries
civil guardrioters
Violent public disorder participants
criminals · insurrectionists · terrorists · mob · lawbreakers
civil, guard, civility, civilian, civics, civilization, civilize, civilized, uncivilized