- [only before noun]
connected with the people who live in a country 国民的；平民的 civil unrest (= that is caused by groups of people within a country) 民众的骚乱 civil strife/conflict 内乱/冲突 There were concerns that the economic reforms might lead to civil unrest. 有人担心经济改革可能会导致内乱。
- [only before noun]
connected with the state rather than with religion or with the armed forces 国家的，政府的（非宗教或军事的） the recognition of civil unions for same-sex couples 承认同性伴侣的民事结合 They were married in a civil ceremony. 他们在世俗的仪式中结婚。 civil aviation 民航 We have called in the army to assist the civil authorities in rescue operations. 我们已经召集军队协助民政当局进行救援行动。
- [only before noun]
involving personal legal matters and not criminal law 民事的（非刑事的） a civil court 民事法庭
polite in a formal way but possibly not friendly 有礼貌的；客气的 The less time I have to spend being civil to him the better! 我巴不得我必须跟他客套的时间越短越好！
Extra ExamplesHe said that the police were perfectly civil in their questioning. 他说警察在审问时非常文明。 I don't want her around if she can't behave in a civil manner to me. 如果她不能对我彬彬有礼，我不想让她在我身边。 The teachers were all perfectly civil to me. 老师们对我都很和蔼。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- remain
- become
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- to
Word Originlate Middle English: via Old French from Latin civilis, from civis ‘citizen’.