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Definition of civilly

civilly

/ˈsɪv.əl.i/
civ · il · ly
Adjective:civil
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civilly Lexical Profile

civilly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a polite, courteous, or respectful manner.

Example

"Although the two candidates strongly disagreed on policy, they spoke to one another civilly throughout the debate."

2

In relation to civil law, private rights, or secular authority, as opposed to criminal or ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

Example

"The contractor may be held civilly liable for damages resulting from the breach of contract."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for civilly
Antonyms
View all antonyms for civilly

• Rhymes for civilly

• Nearby Words

civilize
civilized
civilizer
civilly
civilness
civvies
civvy

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Late Middle English from the adjective 'civil' (from Latin civilis, meaning 'relating to a citizen' or 'courteous') and the adverbial suffix '-ly'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Civilly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/civilly
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