countryman

[kuhn-tree-muhn]

noun

plural

countrymen 

1. a native or inhabitant of one's own country.

   Synonyms: landsman, compatriot
   Antonyms: foreigner

2. a native or inhabitant of a particular region.

3. a person who lives in the country.

   Synonyms: peasant, farmer, rustic

4. an unsophisticated person, as one who lives in or comes from a rural area; rustic.

countryman

/ ˈkʌntrɪmən /

noun

1. a person who lives in the country

2. a person from a particular country or from one's own country (esp in the phrase fellow countryman )

Gender Note

Is countryman gender-neutral? See -man.

Other Word Forms

• countrywoman noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of countryman¹

First recorded in 1275–1325, countryman is from Middle English contre man. See country, man

Example Sentences

Despite its military prowess, Sparta lacked strategic depth; its king, Archidamus II, therefore urged his countrymen to remonstrate with the Athenians, to buy time while recruiting other distant powers to their side.

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She finds her new countrymen puzzling in nearly every way.

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He saw inmates as his countrymen, and his faith taught him that nobody was beyond salvation; there was good in everyone.

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His first response to his countrymen today has been to publicly emphasise that he did not, in fact, agree to a Palestinian state.

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Emery believes the transition will be smooth with his fellow Basque countryman Olabe as they were able to replace Monchi quickly.

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Related Words

• compatriot