civic duty
19
3.5
- noun
- /ˈsɪvɪk ˈdjuːti/
:
deber cívico
- As a good citizen, she felt it was her civic duty to vote in every election.
- women and their civic duty
So the first thing I would tell people is it, it is not your civic duty to vote.
- So the first thing I would tell people is it, it is not your civic duty to vote.
Examples
-
That's our civic duty.
-
You have fulfilled your civic duty.
-
Now, it is your civic duty to study these rules.
-
So, this is you doing your civic duty.
-
How could a man in my position not step in and do his civic duty?
-
Rights, after all, are connected with a degree of civic duty.
Academic text (2003) -
Why, a weaker man would forget his civic duty and get away from all this.
-
I don't disagree with the idea that everyone has a civic duty and responsibility to their community.
Blog text (19) -
Furthermore, it is our civic duty to vote responsibly by first educating ourselves on the issues.
Blog text (13) -
Mekertichyan, Rodarte, and Wood all talked about how a civic duty compelled them to campaign.
Blog text (29)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Something you must do because of law, your job, or what is right
524
3.2
A duty you feel to do something because it is right or someone helped you
28
4.9
A duty you feel because something is right or wrong
4
4.3
Things citizens must do, like obey laws and vote, to help their community and country
2
4.0
Something a person must do because the law says so
How Obligatory
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly built from 'civic' (relating to city/community or citizenship) and 'duty' (a responsibility). A B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer this refers to responsibilities of citizens (e.g., voting, obeying laws). The composition follows a regular, cross-linguistically common pattern, so it is transparent.
Etymology
Civic duty connects civic (from the old word for 'city' or 'town') and duty ('a job you must do'). Imagine neighbors meeting to vote, paying taxes, or helping when the town has a problem; doing these things is a civic duty, which is why the phrase means the responsibilities of a citizen.