incivil

I1N1C3I1V4I1L1
US/ɪnˈsɪv.ɪl/

adjective

Displaying a lack of courtesy; rude, impolite.

Scrabble 12

Meanings

adjectiveincivil (comparative more incivil, superlative most incivil)

comparative more incivil · superlative most incivil

  1. rareDisplaying a lack of courtesy; rude, impolite.

    "No matter how rude or incivil the existing habits of behavior, in other words, if the creature was in fact a human being, then he/she was necessarily endowed with a soul and thus with a capacity of understanding at least sufficient to absorb and retain Europe's instruction."

    2005, Lawrence E. Hazelrigg, 'Social Science and the Challenge of Relativism, ' -, →ISBN, page 235

    Synonyms: discourteous, uncivil, uncouth, aweless, improper, bad-mannered, barbaric, bold

  2. rareUncivilized, barbarous.

    "It will be essentially incivil and criminal."

    2001, M. K. Gandhi, 'Non-Violent Resistance, ', →ISBN, page 182
    1 more example

    Oft haue I heard your Maieſtie complain, Of Tamburlaine that ſturdie Scythian thiefe, That robs your merchants of Perſepolis, Trading by land vnto the westerne Iſles, And in your confines with his lawleſſe traine, Daily commits inciuill outrages.

    c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene i

    Synonyms: barbaric, heathen, uncultured, animalistic, barbarian, barbaric, barbarious, barbarous

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Italic*n̥-
  4. Latinin-
  5. Middle Englishin-
  6. Englishin-
  7. Englishcivil
  8. Englishincivil

From in- + civil. Piecewise doublet of uncivil.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan incivil, incivilitzat
  • incivilWant of courtesy
  • incivilitzatWant of civilization
Czech nezdvořilý
  • nezdvořilýWant of courtesy
Finnish epäkohtelias, sivistymätön
  • epäkohteliasWant of courtesy
  • sivistymätönWant of civilization
French incivil, incivilisé
  • incivilWant of courtesy
  • inciviliséWant of civilization
Greek αγενής
  • αγενής (agenís)Want of courtesy
Spanish incivil, salvaje
  • incivilWant of courtesy
  • salvajeWant of civilization
  • bárbaroWant of civilization

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

incivil. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incivil

MLA

“incivil.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incivil. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “incivil,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/incivil.

Source: incivil on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.