| 1. | those branches of public service concerned with all governmental administrative functions outside the armed services. |
| 2. | the body of persons employed in these branches. |
| 3. | a system or method of appointing government employees on the basis of competitive examinations, rather than by political patronage. |

| civil service n. Abbr. CS
|
The nonmilitary personnel who work for a government, applying its laws and regulations.