What does civvy mean?
"Civvy" is an informal British term for a civilian — someone who does not belong to the armed forces. It arose as a colloquial shortening of "civilian," first recorded in the late nineteenth century, and it remains especially common in British English, both inside the military and in everyday speech about service life. Soldiers often use it neutrally or even affectionately: a recruit fresh from ordinary life is a "civvy," and the transition back to non-military existence is famously described as going "back on civvy street." By extension, members of other uniformed professions, such as police officers or firefighters, may apply the word to anyone outside their own trade. A closely related use of the plural "civvies" refers to civilian clothes worn instead of uniform. While casual and conversational rather than formal, "civvy" carries little stigma; it simply marks the boundary between those who serve and those who do not.
nounA civilian — a person not serving in the armed forces or, by extension, not a member of a particular profession such as the police or firefighting services.
- A person who is not a member of the armed forces; a civilian.
- Loosely, a layperson relative to any specialist profession, such as police or emergency services.
"After twenty years in the army, he still found it strange to be treated as just another civvy."
"He swapped his uniform for civvy clothes the day he was demobilized."
"To the firefighters, we journalists were just civvies getting under their feet."
The standard plural is "civvies." It is also commonly used on its own to mean civilian clothing, as opposed to military uniform.
"He packed his kit bag and put on his civvies for the journey home."
British soldiers have been calling everyone outside the forces "civvies" since the 1880s — and "back on civvy street" remains service slang for returning to ordinary life after leaving the military.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of civvy
"Civvy" originated in nineteenth-century Britain as a clipped, informal contraction of "civilian," which itself derives from the Latin "civilis" meaning relating to citizens — from "civis," a citizen or townsman. First recorded around the 1880s in military slang, it spread through British armed-forces usage, where "civvies" also came to mean civilian clothing. Its Latin root connects it to a wider family including "civic," "civil," and "civilization."
Related word forms
How civvy is actually used
"Civvy" is informal and colloquial, used mainly within military circles or when discussing military life. The plural form "civvies" is also widely used to mean plain civilian clothing as opposed to uniform. The tone is affectionate rather than derogatory, though it can occasionally carry a faintly patronizing edge.
Easily confused with civvy
"Civilian" is the standard formal term for anyone not in the armed forces, while "civvy" is an informal military slang shortening of the same word.