Definition

In military-speak, anyone who doesn't have to wear camouflage, salute anyone, or sleep in a tent. The term is used with a straight face to describe the people whose taxes pay for everything the uniformed folks get to blow up.

Example Usage

The base briefing was clear: civilian contractors must stay behind the red line unless they have a badge, a vest, and a sincere wish to be escorted.

Source: Provided dictionary definitions; standard military terminology

Related Terms

Beginner

logistical

Relating to the mind-numbingly complex planning and coordination required to move people, equipment, and supplies from Point A to Point B without everything collapsing into chaos. In military contexts, it's the unglamorous backbone that keeps armies functioning; in business, it's why your package is stuck in a warehouse in Kentucky. Logistics is what happens when reality crashes into your beautiful strategic plans.

🎖️ Military / Defense
Intermediate

mast

Either a tall support structure for sails (the nautical kind) or military-speak for non-judicial punishment where a commanding officer decides your fate without a courtroom. Both are equally terrifying.

🎖️ Military / Defense
Advanced

Clickety-Click

The distance a rifle scope's elevation dial adjusts per click—usually about 1/4 inch at 100 yards, because precision matters when lives are on the line.

🎖️ Military / Defense
Advanced

M40A1

A bolt-action sniper rifle favored by U.S. Navy SEALs and other military sharpshooters who need to reach out and touch someone from very, very far away. This .308 Winchester chambered weapon is the professional's choice for long-range precision work, often confused with civilian hunting rifles by people who get their gun knowledge from video games. It's what you use when "spray and pray" isn't in your vocabulary.

🎖️ Military / Defense
Advanced

pazamnik

Israeli military slang for a soldier who's accumulated enough service time to shed their rookie status and earn the right to look down on the newbies. These battle-tested veterans have survived long enough to become cynical about army life while simultaneously feeling superior to anyone with less 'pazam' (time in service). It's the IDF version of workplace seniority, but with more artillery.

🎖️ Military / Defense
Advanced

Sextant

A precision optical instrument used for measuring angles, particularly the angle between the sun or moon and the horizon, essential for celestial navigation and determining latitude and longitude at sea. The sextant measures up to 120 degrees and uses mirrors and telescopes to achieve high accuracy.

🎖️ Military / Defense

Translate This Term

See “civilian” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on XShare on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Beginner

contraction

In fitness terms, what your muscle does when it's actually working—shortening under tension to create movement. Not to...