civil war

noun

a war between political factions or regions within the same country.
Compare American Civil War, English Civil War, Spanish Civil War.

Origin of civil war

First recorded in 1540–50

Words nearby civil war

civil rights movement, civil servant, civil service, civil society, civil tongue, civil war, civil year, civilian, civilian clothes, civilian conservation corps, civilian review board

Example sentences from the Web for civil war

British Dictionary definitions for civil war (1 of 2)

civil war

noun

war between parties, factions, or inhabitants of different regions within the same nation

British Dictionary definitions for civil war (2 of 2)

Civil War

noun

English history the conflict between Charles I and the Parliamentarians resulting from disputes over their respective prerogatives. Parliament gained decisive victories at Marston Moor in 1644 and Naseby in 1645, and Charles was executed in 1649
US history the war fought from 1861 to 1865 between the North and the South, sparked off by Lincoln's election as president but with deep-rooted political and economic causes, exacerbated by the slavery issue. The advantages of the North in terms of population, finance, and communications brought about the South's eventual surrender at Appomattox

Cultural definitions for civil war

Civil War

The war fought in the United States between northern (Union) and southern (Confederate) states from 1861 to 1865, in which the Confederacy sought to establish itself as a separate nation. The Civil War is also known as the War for Southern Independence and as the War between the States. The war grew out of deep-seated differences between the social structure and economy of North and South, most notably over slavery; generations of political maneuvers had been unable to overcome these differences (see Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850). The secession of the southern states began in late 1860, after Abraham Lincoln was elected president. The Confederacy was formed in early 1861. The fighting began with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. Most of the battles took place in the South, but one extremely crucial episode, the Battle of Gettysburg, was fought in the North. The war ended with the surrender of General Robert E. Lee to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. (See Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Chancellorsville, Emancipation Proclamation, and Sherman's march to the sea.)

notes for Civil War

The Civil War has been the most serious test yet of the ability of the United States to remain one nation.