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

Kim, who wanted to reunify the two Koreas, rallied his countrymen by claiming that the South had initiated the 1950 attack.

From BBC

He immediately called Minguela, whose cell number is saved in his phone under “paisa,” countryman.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes resembling a distinguished countryman with a well-kept beard, Brussels griffons can make good apartment dogs as long as their owners are willing to keep up a good, active routine for them.

From Los Angeles Times

In this fiercely proud part of Italy, Gilmour's ability and desire to pick up the language and his fellow countryman's much publicised love of the local tomatoes, means a lot here.

From BBC

Lange is believed to be a big admirer of his countryman, who has vast experience of working within the sort of data-driven recruitment ethos that the Tottenham executive is implementing.

From BBC

Related Words

• compatriot