A civil servant is a permanent official who serves whatever government is elected. A senior civil servant, a career civil servant, civil servants advise.
The point of the job is that it outlasts ministers, so advice can be given without an eye on the next election. A civil servant is expected to be politically impartial in public, whatever they privately think.
1nouncivil servantA permanent official who serves whatever government is elected.
“She spent thirty years as a civil servant under six governments.”
civil servant is an official.
Practised in Politics & Society