compatriot
Americannoun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- compatriotic adjective
- compatriotism noun
Etymology
Origin of compatriot
From the Late Latin word compatriōta, dating back to 1605–15. See com-, patriot
Explanation
A compatriot is a person from the same country as you. Don't confuse it with patriot, which means someone with notable love for his country. The word compatriot is often used to suggest an automatic sense of friendship. All compatriots are assumed to be chummy with each other — though, in fact, there's nothing in the dictionary definition to suggest this. Compatriots may — and often do — loathe each other, as countless civil wars have demonstrated.
Vocabulary lists containing compatriot
Not Your Father's Word List: Pater, Patr
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Outliers
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Fidel Castro (1926-2016) Memorial List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"My son went to Donetsk while his compatriot was sent elsewhere in the Donbas," he told AFP.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
But Hansen saw in his compatriot much of what he aspired to be: a fighter pilot and an astronaut.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
His opening match at the Australian Open nearly ended quickly against compatriot Marcos Giron, who Tien trailed by a break in the fourth set before turning the match around to win in five sets.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
However, Johannes Lochner piloted Germany to gold to complete the two and four-man double while his legendary compatriot Francesco Friedrich's team claimed silver.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026
The man who hung back joined his compatriot.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
