civil defense

noun

: the system of protective measures and emergency relief activities conducted by civilians in case of hostile attack, sabotage, or natural disaster

Examples of civil defense in a Sentence

She's in training to be part of the local civil defense. the head of civil defense
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Saudi civil defense authorities also reported Sunday that six people were injured when a hostile projectile struck a residential neighborhood in Najran, damaging three homes and three vehicles. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The Saudi civil defense reported air raid alerts in Riyadh and Kharj province southeast of the capital. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Its civil defense authority stopped issuing public alerts by phone of incoming missiles and drones last week – before the series of deadly strikes on Riyadh airport. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 An Israeli strike in the vicinity of Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza overnight killed one civil defense worker, according to health officials at the territory's Health Ministry and the civil defense. — Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for civil defense

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of civil defense was in 1939

Rhymes for civil defense

See All Rhymes for civil defense

Browse Nearby Words

civil death
civil defense
civil disobedience
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Civil defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20defense. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

civil defense

noun
: protective actions and emergency relief activities carried on by civilians in case of enemy attack or natural disaster

More from Merriam-Webster on civil defense

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about civil defense

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