Civil

adj.calm, thoughtfulprofessional

What it means

Respectful and restrained enough to keep disagreement from becoming personal hostility.

Reach for it when describing conduct that preserves basic courtesy despite conflict

The former partners kept the negotiation civil and focused on the shared deadline.

everyday
polite
ordinary good manners are the focus
not when Polite can feel too friendly for mere restraint between opponents.
warm
cordial
the manner is sincerely friendly
not when Cordial overstates a tense conversation that stayed controlled but cool.
professional
diplomatic
tact is being used to manage competing interests
not when Diplomatic implies strategic phrasing rather than simple decency.
professional
respectful
regard for the other person's dignity matters
not when Respectful can describe deep esteem, while civil may only mean no hostility.
formal
courteous
active consideration and respect are present
not when Courtesy suggests more warmth and attentiveness than a minimally civil exchange.
literary
decorous
formal propriety and restraint define the behavior
not when This rare word is too ceremonious for an everyday disagreement.

civil conversation
A civil conversation revealed two points of genuine agreement.
remain civil
Both candidates agreed to remain civil during the final debate.
civil response
Her civil response refused the demand without insulting its author.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.