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Civ

(video games, slang) Civilization, a turn-based strategy video game from 1991 (and various sequels) in which the player attempts to build and maintain an empire throughout history.

ˈsivDocumented since 1990s1990sMillennialhistorical110 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1991 · no dated citations yet
1991BornToday, 2026
Millennial / early-internet eraSee decade cohort →

Definitions

#1·Apr 26, 2026

(video games, slang) Civilization, a turn-based strategy video game from 1991 (and various sequels) in which the player attempts to build and maintain an empire throughout history.

For parents

"Civ" means: Civilization, a turn-based strategy video game from 1991 (and various sequels) in which the player attempts to build and maintain an empire.... This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"Civ" means: Civilization, a turn-based strategy video game from 1991 (and various sequels) in which the player attempts to build and maintain an empire.... Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Cluster: gaming_specific
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#2·Apr 26, 2026

(board games, slang) Civilization, a turn-based strategy board game from 1980.

I'd worked almost exclusively on the Wizardry series, so I knew everything about it like the back of my hand. So when I played Civ, I became fascinated with how it did that.
Cluster: general
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#3·Apr 26, 2026

(video games, slang) A civilization, any of various empires in the Civilization games.

Is it really good to have so many Civs close together?
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For specific readers

"Civ" means: Civilization, a turn-based strategy video game from 1991 (and various sequels) in which the player attempts to build and maintain an empire.... This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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