the civil service
noun
: the part of a government that takes care of the government's basic business : the administrative part of a government
—often used before another noun
a civil service employee
the civil service system
Examples of the civil service in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Riedl compares the agency to the civil service, where nonpartisan staff stay regardless of whether the president is a Democrat or Republican.
—
Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 6 June 2025
Federal workers face additional uncertainty from efforts to politicize the civil service.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Here’s hoping a sounder reform of the civil service can now begin.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 14 May 2025
What is certain is that DOGE has already reshaped the federal workforce: More than 100,000 federal workers have been fired or taken buyouts to leave the civil service so far, though ongoing court battles mean that number is likely to change in the coming months.
—Shannon Bond, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the civil service
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Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 6 June 2025
Federal workers face additional uncertainty from efforts to politicize the civil service.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Here’s hoping a sounder reform of the civil service can now begin.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 14 May 2025
What is certain is that DOGE has already reshaped the federal workforce: More than 100,000 federal workers have been fired or taken buyouts to leave the civil service so far, though ongoing court battles mean that number is likely to change in the coming months.
—Shannon Bond, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the civil service
Cite this Entry
“The civil service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20civil%20service. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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