Civilian vs. Citizen — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
A "Civilian" is someone not in the armed forces, while a "Citizen" is a legal member of a state or country.
Difference Between Civilian and Citizen
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A "Civilian" primarily denotes an individual who is not a member of the armed services or the police. This term sets apart the general populace from military and law enforcement personnel. Conversely, a "Citizen" refers to an individual who legally belongs to a specific nation or state and is entitled to its rights and protections.
While "Civilian" underscores the distinction between military and non-military populations, "Citizen" emphasizes one's affiliation and allegiance to a particular country. Citizenship often comes with specific rights, such as voting, and duties, like paying taxes.
In times of conflict or war, the term "Civilian" becomes particularly significant as it designates those who are non-combatants. "Citizen", however, is a term more consistent in its usage, relating to civic duties and national identity irrespective of the global situation.
"Civilian" can be employed in various contexts, not solely military. For instance, in corporate settings, someone from outside an industry might be termed a "civilian". On the flip side, "Citizen" can pertain to both native-born individuals and those who've obtained citizenship through legal processes.
In essence, while both "Civilian" and "Citizen" pertain to individuals within a societal structure, they emphasize different aspects: non-military affiliation versus national or state membership.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Someone not in the armed forces or police
A legal member of a state or country
Context
Military vs. Non-military
Nationality, rights, and civic duties
Legal Implications
None directly, more about status
Comes with specific rights and responsibilities
Usage Context
Often in times of conflict or war
Consistent, irrespective of global situations
Broader Application
Can refer to outsiders in industries
Pertains to national identity or legal status
Compare with Definitions
Civilian
An individual not in the military or police
The army was careful to avoid civilian casualties.
Citizen
An inhabitant of a city or town
Every citizen in the town attended the parade.
Civilian
Someone not involved in a particular situation or sphere
In the world of fashion, he felt like a civilian.
Citizen
A native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government
He became a citizen after years of living in the country.
Civilian
Non-professional or layperson in context
In tech companies, those who aren't programmers are sometimes referred to as civilians.
Citizen
Someone entitled to the protection of a state or country
Traveling abroad, she visited the embassy when she needed assistance as a citizen.
Civilian
A person who is not an active member of the military, the police, or a belligerent group in a conflict.
Citizen
A legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized
A British citizen
Civilian
A person who is not an employee of the government
Programs available to both government employees and civilians.
Citizen
A person owing loyalty to and entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation.
Civilian
A person outside of a specific profession or activity
To a doctor, anyone not in medicine might seem like a civilian.
Citizen
A participant in a community or group with certain rights and responsibilities
As a good citizen, he always recycles.
Civilian
A non-combatant in times of war or conflict
During the war, civilians bore the brunt of the hardships.
Citizen
A resident of a city or town, especially one entitled to vote and enjoy other privileges there.
Civilian
In general use, a civilian is "a person who is not a member of the police, the armed forces, or a fire department." This use distinguishes from persons whose duties involve risking their lives to protect the public at large from hazardous situations such as terrorism, riots, conflagrations, and wars.Under international humanitarian law, civilians are "persons who are not members of the armed forces" and are not "combatants if they [don't] carry arms openly and respect the laws and customs of war". It is slightly different from a non-combatant, as some non-combatants are not civilians (for example, military chaplains attached to the belligerent party or military personnel serving with a neutral country).
Citizen
A civilian.
Civilian
A specialist in Roman or civil law.
Citizen
A native, inhabitant, or denizen of a particular place
Citizens of rural Utah.
Civilian
Of, relating to, or being a civilian or civilians
Civilian clothes.
A civilian career.
Citizen
A resident of a city or town, especially one with legally-recognized rights or duties.
Civilian
A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the armed forces.
Three civilians were apprehended by the soldiers and taken away in a military vehicle.
Citizen
A legally-recognized member of a state, with associated rights and obligations; a person considered in terms of this role.
I am a Roman citizen.
Civilian
(informal) A person who does not belong to a particular group or engage in a particular activity, an outsider.
The bathroom was for employees only, so civilians weren't allowed to use it.
Citizen
An inhabitant or occupant: a member of any place.
Diogenes reckoned himself a citizen of the world.
Civilian
One skilled in civil law.
Citizen
(Christianity) A resident of the heavenly city or later of the kingdom of God: a Christian; a good Christian.
Civilian
A student of civil law at a university or college.
Citizen
A civilian, as opposed to a police officer, soldier, or member of some other specialized (usually state) group.
Civilian
Not related to the military, police or other governmental professions.
The three detainees were actually army defectors wearing civilian clothing.
He worked as a civilian journalist for ten years before being employed by the public broadcaster.
Citizen
(obsolete) An ordinary person, as opposed to nobles and landed gentry on one side and peasants, craftsmen, and laborers on the other.
Civilian
One skilled in the civil law.
Ancient civilians and writers upon government.
Citizen
A term of address among French citizens during the French Revolution or towards its supporters elsewhere; dated a term of address among socialists and communists.
Civilian
A student of the civil law at a university or college.
Citizen
(computing) An object.
Civilian
One whose pursuits are those of civil life, not military or clerical.
Citizen
One who enjoys the freedom and privileges of a city; a freeman of a city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or one not entitled to its franchises.
That large body of the working men who were not counted as citizens and had not so much as a vote to serve as an anodyne to their stomachs.
Civilian
A nonmilitary citizen
Citizen
An inhabitant of a city; a townsman.
Civilian
Associated with or performed by civilians as contrasted with the military;
Civilian clothing
Civilian life
Citizen
A person, native or naturalized, of either sex, who owes allegiance to a government, and is entitled to reciprocal protection from it.
Citizen
One who is domiciled in a country, and who is a citizen, though neither native nor naturalized, in such a sense that he takes his legal status from such country.
Citizen
Having the condition or qualities of a citizen, or of citizens; as, a citizen soldiery.
Citizen
Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of a city; characteristic of citizens; effeminate; luxurious.
I am not well,But not so citizen a wanton asTo seem to die ere sick.
Citizen
A native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
Citizen
A legal member of a country or state
As a citizen of the USA, she has the right to vote.
Common Curiosities
Is every citizen also a civilian?
Not always; citizens in the military or police aren't civilians.
Can a non-citizen be a civilian?
Yes, civilian status isn't tied to citizenship.
Can citizenship be lost or renounced?
Yes, depending on the country's laws, citizenship can be renounced or revoked.
Can civilians legally participate in combat?
Typically, no. Civilians are non-combatants by definition.
Do all countries define citizenship similarly?
No, citizenship laws and rights vary by country.
Is every person born in a country automatically a citizen?
It depends on the country's citizenship laws, but not always.
In what context might "civilian" be used outside of military settings?
It could be used to describe someone outside of a specific profession or industry.
Are there protections for civilians in times of war?
Yes, international laws like the Geneva Conventions protect civilians during conflicts.
Can a person be a citizen of multiple countries?
Yes, some countries allow dual or multiple citizenships.
What responsibilities come with citizenship?
Often includes duties like paying taxes, obeying laws, and sometimes mandatory military service.
Can a foreigner become a citizen?
Yes, through naturalization processes which vary by country.
Is "civilian" always related to military contexts?
Primarily, but it can also denote someone outside a specific group or profession.
How does one differentiate between civilians and military personnel?
Uniforms, affiliations, and roles are typical indicators.
Is citizenship permanent?
Generally, but it can be renounced or, in rare cases, revoked.
Are all civilians protected from military actions?
In theory, yes, but sadly, civilian casualties still occur in conflicts.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
