People, Power, and Politics: civ (citizen; city)

The words on this list all share the root civ, from the Latin civis, meaning "citizen."
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. citizenship
    membership in a state with rights and duties
    So they applied for U.S. citizenship, sitting up at night reading the Constitution, a dictionary by their side, and studying for the exam. The Book of Unknown Americans
  2. civic
    of or relating to or befitting citizens as individuals
    This lack of regard, or even awareness, of the civic mission of schools is, historically speaking, a sea change. US News (Sep 17, 2015)
  3. civics
    the study of the duties and rights of citizenship
    High school history and civics courses are the first line of defense for preparing children to be engaged and active citizens in the political process. Salon (Aug 5, 2015)
    civis (townsman) + ics (suffix forming names of sciences or disciplines)
    According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, here are some questions that a civics course might explore:
    1) Who has the full rights and obligations of a citizen?
    2) In what communities ought we see ourselves as citizens?
    3) What responsibilities does a citizen of each kind of community have?
  4. civil disobedience
    refusal to comply with a law as a form of political protest
    The Program of Action approved at the annual conference called for the pursuit of political rights through the use of boycotts, strikes, civil disobedience, and noncooperation. Long Walk to Freedom
  5. civilian
    a nonmilitary citizen
    Soldiers and civilians were streaming away from the road in all directions. Atonement
    A civilian used to be a judge or authority on civil law. Later, a civilian was anyone who was not a soldier. As an adjective, the word can describe anything relating to a nonmilitary citizen.
  6. civility
    formal or perfunctory politeness
    Most societies have successfully maintained standards of civility and respect while keeping open avenues for those who are funny, uncivil and offensive. Seattle Times (Jan 10, 2015)
  7. civilization
    the achievement of an advanced stage of social development
    Since the dawn of civilization, people have been fascinated by the behavior of others, particularly when it is outside of society’s norm. Washington Times (Sep 21, 2015)
    Before civilization became a broad term for an advanced stage of social development for humans or for a specific society, it referred only to the laws that governed the criminal process. These laws limited punishments seen as cruel and barbaric.
  8. civilize
    teach or refine to be sophisticated in taste or judgment
    “I may need civilized company to like you. I’ve made up my mind. It’s off to finishing school with you.” Ella Enchanted
  9. civilized
    having a high state of culture and social development
    There was no doubt that Fowl was a danger to the civilized underworld. Artemis Fowl
  10. civil liberty
    freedom from arbitrary governmental interence
    Understanding this history of immigration restriction and civil liberties violations is critical to the current debate over birthright citizenship. US News (Aug 25, 2015)
  11. civil right
    right belonging to a person by reason of citizenship
    “David’s not an internee. He has civil rights. The rule of law exists.” Internment
  12. civil service
    the government workforce exclusive of military service
    A modern civil service system did not emerge until much later, under the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt. Washington Times (Sep 29, 2015)
  13. civil war
    a war between factions in the same country
    This civil war has not only divided the nation, it has also split countless families, pitting fathers against sons, and brothers against brothers. Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever
  14. incivility
    deliberate discourtesy
    “That proves you must have been an honest and faithful servant. I will say so much for you, though you have had the incivility to call me a beggar.” Jane Eyre
Created on Mon Mar 23 11:53:59 EDT 2026 (updated Mon Mar 23 11:54:15 EDT 2026)

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