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Definitions

civil service

NOUN
bureaucracy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
administration authority management ministry red tape
STRONG
directorate government officialdom officials
WEAK
beadledom city hall powers that be regulatory commission the Establishment the system
NOUN
public service
Synonyms
WEAK
benevolences good works philanthropies public life works

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.

In November, the then head of the civil service, Sir Chris Wormald, said Lord Mandelson was not formally interviewed for the role of US ambassador.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

But the civil service code says officials must correct errors as soon as possible, accurately present options and facts and not knowingly mislead ministers, or Parliament.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Late in the day, Starmer fired the top civil service official at the Foreign Office who allegedly overruled the security services and approved the hiring.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Cap bearing the badge of the Indian Police Service, the highest-trained level of police officers who must pass the Indian civil service exam.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

“Did we not put that old book he used to read for the civil service exam inside?”

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie