Civil describes behavior that is polite, respectful, and orderly, even when you disagree with someone or don't particularly like them. When two students who aren't friends manage to work together on a group project without arguing or being rude, they're being civil to each other. When adults have a civil conversation about politics despite seeing things differently, they listen respectfully and don't resort to insults or yelling.

Being civil doesn't mean you have to be warm or friendly. You can be civil to someone while still keeping your distance. Think of it as basic courtesy: saying “excuse me” instead of pushing past someone, or responding “no, thank you” instead of “I don't like that” when you don't like an idea.

The word also appears in important phrases. Civil rights are the basic freedoms and protections every citizen is supposed to have, like the right to vote or receive fair treatment regardless of race. A civil war happens when people within the same country fight each other, as Americans did from 1861 to 1865. Civil servants are government employees who work for the public, and civilians are ordinary people who aren't in the military.

The opposite of civil behavior is being rude, hostile, or disrespectful. When conversations turn uncivil, people stop listening to each other and start attacking each other. Staying civil, even when tensions run high, can help people find solutions instead of just making problems worse.