civil action

/ˌsɪvɪl ˌækʃən/
IPA guide

Other forms: civil actions

Definitions of civil action
  1. noun
    legal action to protect a private civil right or to compel a civil remedy (as distinguished from criminal prosecution)
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    type of:
    action, action at law, legal action
    a judicial proceeding brought by one party against another; one party prosecutes another for a wrong done or for protection of a right or for prevention of a wrong
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