Meanings
nouncivvy street (uncountable)
alternative Civvy Street
- UKslanguncountablegovernmentThe condition or status of a civilian; civilian life.
In civvy street he had been a bus cleaner.
2002, Sam Smith, Vera and Eddy’s War, Nibley, South Gloucestershire: BeWrite Books, →ISBN1 more example
You might have been in Civvy Street / Instead of in the fight; / But it serves you right, / You shouldn't have joined [the navy], / It jolly well serves you right.
1943 November, Desmond Cox, Harold Elton Box, “It Serves You Right (You Shouldn’t Have Joined)”, in Bell-Bottom George (released 7 February 1944; soundtrack), performed by George Formby
Origin
From civvy (“(informal) civilian”, adjective and noun) + street.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish siviilielämä
- siviilielämäcondition or status of a civilian
Polish życie w cywilu
- życie w cywilucondition or status of a civilian
Russian гражда́нка
- гражда́нка (graždánka)condition or status of a civilian
Cite this entry
APA
civvy street. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/civvy%20street
MLA
“civvy street.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/civvy%20street. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “civvy street,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/civvy%20street.
Source: civvy street on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.