civil society

British

noun

the elements such as freedom of speech, an independent judiciary, etc, that make up a democratic society

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

NGOs and civil society groups regularly condemn violations of civil liberties and threats against political opponents.

From Barron's

There are far greater capacities in civil society and the private sector than in 1945, "and we need to be able to harness that: we don't have to do everything in the UN."

From Barron's

In the provincial capital Banda Aceh, student groups and civil society organisations have descended on the local parliament to demand greater mobilisation of national resources.

From Barron's

His voice breaking from emotion, the general predicted that reconstructing the nation’s democracy, civil society and standing in the world would take many years.

From Salon

"The rapid response – from the National Assembly, courts, media, and civil society – demonstrates that democratic safeguards are robust and effective," Shin says.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023