From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcivilianci‧vil‧ian /səˈvɪljən/ ●●○ noun [countable] ARMYanyone who is not a member of the military forces or the police Many innocent civilians were killed during the war. —civilian adjective [only before noun] It was difficult to return to civilian life after ten years in the military.
Examples from the Corpus
civilian• It is not only against civilians.• In all 646 soldiers and civilians were arrested and accused of supporting the rebellion.• The people of Vicksburg, both soldiers and civilians, had swarmed out into the streets.• Even during war, life must go on for civilians.• Along with the fresh arrivals on the Union side was a Gettysburg civilian named John Burns.• She said at least five of the corpses were those of civilians.• Shots slammed into the walls inside the courtyard where the civilians cried and threw themselves on the ground. 