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Civilian vs Plebeian - What's the difference?

civilian | plebeian |

As nouns the difference between civilian and plebeian

is that civilian is a person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the armed forces while plebeian is one of the plebs, or common people of ancient rome, in distinction from patrician.

As adjectives the difference between civilian and plebeian

is that civilian is that which is not related to the military, police or other uniformed profession while plebeian is of or pertaining to the roman plebs, or common people.

civilian

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the armed forces.
  • (label) A person who does not belong to a particular group or engage in a particular activity.
  • One skilled in civil law.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • A student of civil law at a university or college.
  • Adjective

    (-)
  • That which is not related to the military, police or other uniformed profession
  • plebeian

    English

    Alternative forms

    * plebian

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to the Roman plebs, or common people.
  • Of or pertaining to the common people; vulgar; common.
  • plebeian sports
    They were all from the ghetto, a plebeian throng.

    Synonyms

    * (of or pertaining to the common people) vulgar

    Antonyms

    * (of or pertaining to the common people) noble, aristocratic

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One of the plebs, or common people of ancient Rome, in distinction from patrician.
  • (archaic) One of the common people, or lower rank of men.
  • * 1748 . David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. ยง 3.
  • The feelings of our heart, the agitation of our passions, the vehemence of our affections, dissipate all its conclusions, and reduce the profound philosopher to a mere plebeian .

    Synonyms

    * (one of the plebs) commoner, pleb * (one of the common people) commoner

    Antonyms

    * (one of the plebs) patrician * (one of the common people) noble, aristocrat

    Derived terms

    * pleb