civil engineer

[/ˈsɪvəl ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪr/]
nounpl: civil engineers
engenheiro civil
1. A professional who designs, builds, and maintains infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, dams, airports, and buildings
The civil engineer oversaw the construction of the new highway bridge.
O engenheiro civil supervisionou a construção da nova ponte da rodovia.
2. A person who holds a degree in civil engineering and is licensed to practice in their jurisdiction
She became a licensed civil engineer after passing the professional exam.
Ela se tornou uma engenheira civil licenciada após passar no exame profissional.
In Brazil, civil engineers are highly respected professionals, especially given the country's massive infrastructure development projects. The profession is regulated by CONFEA (Conselho Federal de Engenharia e Agronomia), and obtaining a license requires completing a degree and passing professional exams. In the USA, civil engineers must obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license to practice independently.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
structural engineerinfrastructure engineerconstruction engineer

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
engenheiro civil
Standard term used throughout Brazil
São Paulo
engenheiro civil
Common in major construction hubs
Portugal
engenheiro civil
Identical term used in European Portuguese

Related Words

mechanical engineerarchitectural engineergeotechnical engineerconstruction project manager

Related Idioms & Phrases

build bridges (figurative use related to civil engineers' work)
lay the groundwork (foundational work like civil engineers do)
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