civilian

Not in uniform

A civilian is someone who isn't a member of the military or, in some contexts, police or other armed services.

The distinction matters in wartime—international law protects civilians from deliberate attack.

The word also appears in phrases like civilian life, meaning ordinary existence outside military service: He struggled to adjust to civilian life after deployment.

Informally, civilian can mean outsider to any specialized profession: I'll try to explain it in civilian terms.

nonmilitary

noncombatant

Person not engaged in warfare

militaryArmed forces collectively
soldierArmed forces member
combatantOne who fights

warfare · army · navy · conscription · draft · veteran · militia · infantry · enlisted · uniformed

attire

clothes

Fabric worn on body

clothingBody coverings worn daily
dressSkirted one-piece garment
garbWhat one wears

plainclothes · uniform · outfit · casual · street clothes · mufti · off-duty · civvies

bystander

innocent

Free from moral wrong

victimOne harmed by another
unarmedHaving no weapons
casualtyPerson harmed in disaster

collateral · caught in crossfire · refugee · displaced · evacuation · shelter · humanitarian · protection · harm's way · witness

government

public

Available to all

citizenLegal national member
taxpayerOne who owes government duties
residentOne who inhabits

population · populace · electorate · constituent · community · society · public sector · municipal · local · federal

everyday

ordinary

Standard, unremarkable

routineRegular sequence of actions
mundaneCommonplace, lacking excitement
daily lifeRegular everyday activities

commute · workday · household · domestic · private · personal · normal · regular · commonplace · unremarkable

civilian

noncombatant

clothes

innocent

public

ordinary

civilian

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

Family