CEFR B1

civil

adjective

Meaning

Polite and respectful, especially towards someone you have a disagreement with or who is not a friend.

Examples

Despite their differences, they managed to remain civil during the meeting.
The lawyer was civil to the opposing counsel, even though the case was difficult.

Synonyms: polite, courteous, respectful, decorous

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civil (B1)

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪvəl/

Definition

Polite and respectful, especially towards someone you have a disagreement with or who is not a friend.

Examples

Despite their differences, they managed to remain civil during the meeting.
The lawyer was civil to the opposing counsel, even though the case was difficult.
It's important to be civil to everyone, regardless of their opinions.

How to Use civil

civil to someone (prepositional phrase): Polite and respectful towards a particular person. — "Even though they disagreed, he was civil to his neighbor."
civil disobedience (collocation): The refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest. — "Mahatma Gandhi is famous for leading the movement of civil disobedience in India."
civil unrest (collocation): Public disturbances involving a group of people, often leading to violence. — "The government deployed troops to quell the civil unrest."

Synonyms of civil

Words with a similar meaning to civil:

Antonyms of civil

Words with the opposite meaning to civil:

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