civil war
noun
plural civil wars
: a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country
a country on the brink of (a) civil war
—often used in the capitalized names of specific warsthe Spanish Civil War
(American/U.S.) Civil War monuments
Note: The American Civil War, fought 1861–1865 between the United States and 11 southern states that had seceded from it, is also commonly known as the U.S. Civil War, or especially in the U.S. as the War Between the States or simply the Civil War.
Examples of civil war in a Sentence
a region that has had many civil wars
The country is on the brink of civil war.
Recent Examples on the Web
America’s centennial in 1876 was celebrated with a grand exhibition that projected an image of national unity and inventiveness in the anxious aftermath of civil war and recession.
—
The New York Review of Books,
4 July 2026
But he was still allowed to stay, since Somalia —fractured by civil war and without central government — was difficult to deport to.
—
Julia Coin
updated July 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 July 2026
So this was really a dispute among the justices about understanding how far the victors basically of the civil war wanted to go in enshrining ideas about broad US citizenship.
—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
As a way to avoid civil war in the year 1850, over the spoils of the Mexican War.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil war
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The New York Review of Books,
4 July 2026
But he was still allowed to stay, since Somalia —fractured by civil war and without central government — was difficult to deport to.
—
Julia Coin
updated July 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 July 2026
So this was really a dispute among the justices about understanding how far the victors basically of the civil war wanted to go in enshrining ideas about broad US citizenship.
—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
As a way to avoid civil war in the year 1850, over the spoils of the Mexican War.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil war
Cite this Entry
“Civil war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20war. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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