civil war

noun

plural civil wars
: a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country
a country on the brink of (a) civil war
often used in the capitalized names of specific wars
the Spanish Civil War
(American/U.S.) Civil War monuments

Note: The American Civil War, fought 1861–1865 between the United States and 11 southern states that had seceded from it, is also commonly known as the U.S. Civil War, or especially in the U.S. as the War Between the States or simply the Civil War.

Examples of civil war in a Sentence

a region that has had many civil wars The country is on the brink of civil war.
Recent Examples on the Web Russia’s heavy-handed rule over the Muslim-majority North Caucasus region and its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the long-running civil war have spurred jihadist narratives against Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 And with Myanmar’s civil war continuing to rage and a global economic slowdown meaning no shortage of work-seekers desperate for a quick buck, the Golden Triangle criminal resurgence shows no sign of slowing. TIME, 21 Mar. 2024 And if that happens, Israel’s other civil war may claim its first casualty: Netanyahu’s political career. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2024 However, since destitute people hoping to escape a civil war aren’t scary enough, far-right commentators are focusing on unverified rumors that the gangs responsible for the collapse of Haiti’s government practice cannibalism. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 Original author James Clavell based Toranaga on the real-life shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries and who was responsible for reviving the Gagaku music traditions that largely disappeared during the civil wars that preceded his rise to power. Jon Burlingame, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 All of them face the daily risk of deadly violence, with one gang leader even warning of civil war that could end in genocide. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 During the Syrian civil war, the camp filled with more displaced families. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 The former police officer, now the country’s most powerful gang leader, has issued Henry an ultimatum: resign or face a civil war. Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civil war.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of civil war was circa 1533

Dictionary Entries Near civil war

Cite this Entry

“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20war. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

civil war

noun
: a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country or nation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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