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

Other Word Forms

• citizenly adjective
• noncitizen noun
• uncitizenly adjective
• undercitizen noun
• citizeness 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

As EU citizens, the Polish couple who married in Germany had the right to freedom of movement and the right to lead a family life, the court explained.

Read more on BBC

"It is very important that as many of our fellow citizens as possible understand what our armed forces are and how they work," Macron added.

Read more on BBC

"My mum and Craig are British citizens. They are living in horrific conditions, isolated, kept behind bars, stripped of their human dignity," he said in a statement.

Read more on BBC

Mr Foster is concerned about potential mistakes and said lessons needed to be learned from Windrush, when thousands of Commonwealth citizens were wrongly classed as illegal immigrants.

Read more on BBC

She is the only one of them facing deportation - her husband is a permanent resident, her daughter is a US citizen and her son has a green card application in progress.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• inhabitant 
• national 
• resident 
• taxpayer