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civil officer

civil officer

1 4.4
A person who holds an official government job that is not military
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪvəl ˈɔfɪsər/
translation icon : funcionario civil
  • The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
  • other civil officers

Examples

  • From 1775 to 1779, civil officers were appointed "without difficulty" by the Council and the House of Representatives together.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Every civil officer shall, and every person may arrest and carry back to his or her legal employer any freedman, free Negro, or mulatto who shall have quit the service of his or her employer before the expiration of his or her term of service without good cause.

    Academic text (1991)
  • All civil officers were to be selected annually by vote of the General Court.

    Academic text (2005)
  • "The Constitution further provides in Article II, Section 4 that the President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."

    Academic text (2001)
  • When Dutch patrols and civil officers arrived in the highlands in 1906, this social and ideological enclave at Bambang was still intact.

    Academic text (1993)
  • In his address at the close of the convention, President James Bowdoin highlighted the retention of the Privy Council and its role in the appointment of civil officers, which would "prevent the governor from abusing the power that is necessary to be put into his hands." (n191)

    Academic text (2005)
  • Further refuting the term-of-art reading of "advice" and "advice and consent," James Bowdoin, in announcing the then-new constitution, used the term "advise" in the context of appointments, in the very place of "advice and consent": "We have provided that he shall have a Council to advise him at all times and upon all important occasions, and he with the advice of his Council is to have the appointment of civil officers."

    Academic text (2005)
  • A civil officer must adhere to the laws and regulations that govern public service.

  • The civil officer reviewed the application forms for potential candidates in the upcoming election.

  • During the meeting, the civil officer explained the new policies that would affect local residents.

Synonyms

bureaucrat
vscivil officer
141 5.6

A person who works in a government office and often cares more about rules than people

is an official government role without implying a strict process focus
government official
vscivil officer
118 3.2

A person elected or appointed to carry out government work

focuses on occupying an official government post rather than policy execution
executive
vscivil officer
103 4.5

A senior person who manages a government department

is an official role in government regardless of seniority or managerial rank
public servant
vscivil officer
43 3.0

A person who works for the government, elected or appointed

focuses on holding an official government position rather than election status
civil servant
vscivil officer
35 2.7

A person who works for a government department in a long-term job and is not elected

is any official government post held by a person, not only permanent staff
government agent
vscivil officer
16 3.7

A person who works for the government and acts for it

is any official government position not limited to representing or acting roles
functionary
vscivil officer
8 7.7

A person who has an official job in a government or large organization

is the broader category of government official positions rather than special roles
administrative official
vscivil officer
1 4.4

A person who manages office work and makes official decisions in a government or large organization

is a general official role in government administration without stressing authority

Antonyms

A person in charge of soldiers who gives orders and leads them

How Senior

civil officer
1 4.4
civil servant
35 2.7

Surface Forms

civil officer singular

Morphology

civil + officer

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'civil' (relating to ordinary citizens or public affairs) + 'officer' (a person holding an official position). This adjective+noun pattern is regular in English and has clear equivalents cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The term civil officer comes from the idea of an officer who serves the civil or 'people' side of government, not the army. So a civil officer is a public official who works for citizens and handles everyday government duties rather than military matters.