fonctionnaire

civil servant, public employee

noun fonk-syo-NEHR Rare

Usage Note

Fonctionnaire refers to anyone employed by the French state or a public body and covered by the statut de la fonction publique. The word is gender-neutral in form; you say un fonctionnaire or une fonctionnaire depending on the person. Job security for fonctionnaires is constitutionally protected, making it a culturally significant status.

Examples

"Elle est fonctionnaire depuis dix ans."

Natural Translation

She has been a civil servant for ten years.

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