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Where does the word "civilian" come from? It comes from Latin civilis, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
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Where does the word "civilian" come from? It comes from Latin civilis, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
Civilian’s story begins in Latin: civilis meant “relating to citizens.” Relating to citizens, from civis (a citizen). It reached English by 1400s as civilian. Narrowed to mean a person not serving in the military or police. Today, civilian means a person who is not a member of the armed forces or police.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient civilis "relating to citizens", relating to citizens, from civis (a citizen).
- Stage 2 · English · 1400s civilian "a person not in the military or police", narrowed to mean a person not serving in the military or police.