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Glite Dictionary
civil leader

civil leader

3.6
A person who leads a city or local community and helps run public services
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪvəl ˈliːdər/
translation icon : líder civil
  • We will need a group of strong civil leaders who can disrupt the political order and establish themselves as the legitimate voice of the people in negotiations with the state.

Examples

  • The civil leader organized a community meeting to discuss local issues.

  • As a respected civil leader, she advocated for improved public services in the city.

  • Humanism was an activity of reformation engaged by scholars, writers, and civil leaders.

    Blog text (6)

  • One by one, the blacks were called to testify ... businesspeople, doctors, educators, civil leaders.

    Heavens Fall (2006)

  • The civil leader played a key role in uniting the community during the crisis.

Synonyms

leader
vscivil leader
∞ 1.0

A person who guides and directs a group, organization, or country

applies specifically to local city or community administration rather than wider positions of influence
civic leader
vscivil leader
6 3.5

A person who helps make decisions and organize services for a city

means the same but uses a different adjective form for the community
civil authority
vscivil leader
  • Formal
3 4.5

A person or group that has power over people's daily life, not the military

focuses on local municipal administration and community affairs rather than formal power

How Prominent

governor
∞ 3.0
mayor
∞ 1.7
civil leader
3.6
volunteer
7 3.5

Surface Forms

civil leader singular
civil leaders plural

Morphology

civil + leader

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'civil' (relating to citizens or public affairs) plus 'leader' (a person who leads), so a learner who knows both words will understand it refers to someone who leads in civic or community/public administration. This adjective+noun combination is productive and cross-linguistically common, making the phrase immediately comprehensible to a B1-level learner.

Etymology

Civil leader comes from the idea of someone who leads the people of a town or city. The word civil points to 'the people' or 'the city' and leader is someone who guides them, so it means a person who helps run local community affairs.