Pronunciation: [sɪvˈɪli͡ən] (IPA) 
The word "civilian" has the spelling /sɪˈvɪliən/ in IPA phonetic transcription. It starts with a "s" sound, followed by an "ih" sound, then a "v" sound, an "ih" sound again, and a "l" sound. The last syllable has a "y" sound, an "uh" sound, and an "n" sound. The spelling of the word reflects its Latin origin, "civis," meaning "citizen," and denotes a person who is not a member of the military or police force.
A civilian, in general terms, refers to an individual who is not a member of the armed forces, police, or any other military organizations. The term is commonly used to describe a person who is a non-combatant, and is typically involved in non-military activities within society. A civilian is usually recognized as a private citizen, unaffiliated with any military or law enforcement entity, and not engaged in armed conflict or direct involvement in warfare.
The concept of civilians is often contrasted with military personnel, who are actively involved in military operations, defense, or law enforcement activities. Civilians primarily contribute to society through various roles such as education, healthcare, administration, commerce, and other civil services. They are individuals who generally live a peaceful life, aiming to contribute to the betterment of society and seek personal or professional success outside of conflict or combat.
Civilians are protected under international humanitarian law and human rights conventions, which aim to uphold the rights, safety, and well-being of individuals not engaged in armed conflict. This includes safeguarding civilians from direct harm, prohibiting intentional attacks or violence against them, and ensuring access to essential services and support.
While the concept of a civilian may vary slightly across jurisdictions, the fundamental idea remains the same—that of an ordinary citizen not actively participating in military, police, or similar security-related activities, but rather contributing to the peaceful fabric of society.
• One engaged in the ordinary pursuits of life.
• Opposed to military or clerical.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "civilian" has its roots in the Latin word "civilis", which means "relating to citizens". It is derived from the Latin word "civis", meaning "citizen". The term was first used in English in the early 19th century, specifically to refer to individuals not serving in the military. The suffix "-ian" denotes a person belonging to or associated with something, so "civilian" signifies a person belonging to or associated with the civilian population rather than the military.
