citizen

[ sit-uh-zuhn, -suhn ]

noun

1. a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection ( alien ).
2. an inhabitant of a city or town, especially one entitled to its privileges or franchises.
3. an inhabitant, or denizen:

   The deer is a citizen of our woods.

4. a civilian, as distinguished from a soldier, police officer, etc.

citizen

/ ˈsɪtɪzən; -ˌnɛs; ˈsɪtɪzənɪs /

noun

1. a native registered or naturalized member of a state, nation, or other political community Compare alien
2. an inhabitant of a city or town
3. a native or inhabitant of any place
4. a civilian, as opposed to a soldier, public official, etc

Derived Forms

• citizeness, noun:feminine
• ˈcitizenly, adjective

Other Words From

• citi·zen·ly adjective
• non·citi·zen noun
• un·citi·zen·ly adjective
• under·citi·zen noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of citizen¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English citisein, from Anglo-French citesein, Old French citeain, from cite city + -ain -an; change from citeain to citesein perhaps by association with Anglo-French denzain denizen

Word History and Origins

Origin of citizen¹

C14: from Anglo-French citesein, from Old French citeien, from cité, city

Example Sentences

Last month, Mr Hunter was revealed as the private citizen who paid for the plane flying Alex Salmond's body home from North Macedonia.

From BBC

“We’re concerned that regulation in general in the FDA will be weakened under the second Trump administration, and particularly concerned about medical devices,” said Dr. Robert Steinbrook, health research group director for the consumer rights group Public Citizen.

From Los Angeles Times

Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, offered a far different interpretation.

From Los Angeles Times

He is just about the last person that a rational citizen would want to put in charge of the nation’s law enforcement apparatus.

From Slate

Another day one promise was to end birthright citizenship - the 150-year-old principle that says anyone born on US soil is an American citizen.

From BBC

Related Words

• inhabitant
• national
• resident
• taxpayer