Glossary of Civilization terms

The Civilization series has many terms related to it. This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. Currently, there is no standard for what terms belong on this page, but that may change depending on how this page evolves.

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

0–9

1 Unit Per Tile (1UpT)

Concept introduced in Civ5 which limited the number of units allowed on a single tile to one

2K Games

Publisher of Civilization 4, 5, 6, Revolution 1 & 2, and Beyond Earth.

4X

A genre of which the Civilization series is part of. It is an abbreviation for Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate.

A

Alpha Centarui game cover

Alpha Centauri

The closest star system to the Solar System. This is the destination of the Starship of most Civilization games, the science Victory. It is also the setting to the a spinoff of the Civilization series, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.

Apolyton

A popular Civilization forum site [1]

B

Christopher Tin - Baba Yetu (Official Music Video)

Official "Baba Yetu" music video

Baba Yetu

The award winning Civilization IV song created by Christopher Tin. The whole song is the Lord's Prayer in Swahili. "Baba Yetu" translates as "Our Father" in Swahili.

Barbarian or Barb

Non-playable "civilization" that cannot win but instead go on rampages trying to destroy other civilizations

Beakers

The name of the science yield in some Civilization games. Technically, these are represented by flasks not beakers.

Civ2   Civ3   Civ4   Civ5   Civ6   CivBE  

In Civ1, these are called Bulbs.

Beeline

Strategy where player directs all of their efforts toward particular technology or civic.

Build Order (BO)

The order a city produces units, buildings, wonders, etc

C

Carpet of Doom

An area of a map with large number of units in Civilization games that only allow one unit per tile. This is similar in concept to the Stack of Doom found in games that allow users that don't have the one unit per tile rule.

Civilization Fanatics' Center or Civfanatics

Another popular Civilization news and forum site [2]

Civilization or Civ

A faction in the Civilization game series. Also refers to the game series.

The Civilization II Civilopedia

Civilopedia

The name given to the in game reference section of Civilization games

Civil disorder

A state of near anarchy in a city if a city is sufficiently unhappy. Found in the earlier Civilization games.

Civil war

May refer to:

1. A game mechanic in Civilization 1 and 2 in which an enemy's capital is conquered and the losing Civilization is split into two.
2. Several scenarios based around the American Civil War.

Culture

A statistic which represents a civilization's artistic, philosophical, and social development and determines how quickly the borders of a city expand. Introduced in Civ3

Civ3   Civ4   Civ5   Civ6   CivBE

Culture Bomb

A game mechanic that allows the player to gain several tiles from an opponent. The tactic originated in Civilization IV where Great Artists can be used to bring a large amount of culture to a city greatly expanding the land a city claimed into territory originally claimed by opposing civilizations.

D

Domination Victory Image in Civ5

Deity

The highest difficulty level in many Civilization games. The term is often used as an adjective meaning very difficult by when used by Civilization fans

Domination

The military victory condition in most Civilization games. In standard English, it means "God".

F

Future Tech Icon in Civ6

Firaxis

The current developer of the Civilization series. This fictional resource Firaxite in Beyond Earth was named after the company.

Future Tech or Future Technology

The final technology that can be researched in Civilization games representing the continuing advance of science. This tech can be researched multiple times providing extra victory points for the player.

G

Goody hut

A game mechanic which encourages players to explore the map. Goody huts are randomly distributed on different tiles throughout the map. The player that is able to move a unit onto the Goody hut usually lead to positive rewards, but occasionally, these can lead to barbarian attacks. The Civilization series does not have a consistent name for goody huts calling them Minor Tribes, Tribal Villages, Ancient Ruins, or native villages. The Beyond Earth game calls them resource pods while the Colonization games call them Lost City Rumors.

I

Infinite City Sprawl (ICS or "smallpox" in FreeCiv)

Strategy where players build as many cities as they can as close as possible.

H

Hammers

Term for production in Civilization 4 and 5 as well as the Colonization series. Production was called Shields in earlier Civilization games.

Civ4   Production Civ5   Colonization

M

MicroProse Logo

MicroProse

The original publisher of the Civilization series

N

Nuclear Gandhi Meme

Nuclear Gandhi

An in game joke said to be based off a bug found in the original game, which was eventually. This bug made the Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi, historically known for his use of nonviolent resistance, threaten players with nuclear warfare in the late game. See the well written Wikipedia article on the topic.

O

Welcome to CivAnon

Civilization ad spoofing Civilization addiction

One City Challenge

A game option in some Civilization games where the player can only own one city

One More Turn

A phrase often used to describe the addictive nature of the video games. While this phrase may be used in reference to many games, the Civilization developers use it in marketing materials as an unofficial motto of the series.

S

Settle in Place (SIP)

Build first city at the same location that the initial settler was located on at the start of the game.

Sid Meier

Sid Meier

The creator of the Civilization series. His name a brand in itself, and is a part of the full title of the main Civilization and Colonization series games along a large number of non civilizations games that he has produced.

Shields

The name of production yields in Civilization 1-3. Called Hammers in Civ4 and Civ5.

Civ1   Civ2   Civ3

Stack of Doom

A strategy used in civilization games up to Civ4 in which players would place a large number of units on a single tile. This strategy is not available in Civilization V and beyond due to due to the one unit per tile game mechanic. A similar "Carpet of Doom" term has been coined for a large mass of units these newer games.

T

Tall (play style)

Strategy where a player builds a small number of cities, but build them up as much as possible. A quality over quantity strategy. See Wide.

W

We Love the King Day (WLtKD)

Special event in most Civilization games with occurs in cities with certain Happiness or other conditions are met. Usually this celebrationy results in an increase in productivity or other bonuses.

Wide (play style)

Strategy where a player expands as quickly as possible, at the expense of improving their existing cities. A quantity over quality strategy. See Tall.

Wonders

Specialized one of a kind buildings that can only be built once per Civilization and can confer great benefits to whoever owns them. This is also a mechanic in Starships.

Z

Zone of control

Rules that restricting military unit movement close to units controlled by another power.

See also

• Acronyms (Civ4)
• Strategy Wiki Civilization Glossary