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; ˈsɪtɪzənɪs; -ˌnɛs /

noun

1. See alien
   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

One that views everything through the eyes of the badge and not the citizens we serve.

From Essence.com

Just how much fires increase in the future, or whether they do at all despite the rise in risk, depends on how policymakers and citizens respond to the threat.

From Vox

Federal law also allows citizens to file suit over Clean Water Act violations, both to seek fines, payable to the government, and to force measures to stop further violations.

From ProPublica

The core principle of democracy is political equality — the idea that all citizens are equal under the law and deserve to have their interests considered equally by the political system.

From Vox

My administration will take all necessary steps to safeguard our citizens from this threat.

From Washington Post

The Pentagon said Faal served in the Air Force for seven years, during which time he became a U.S. citizen.

From The Daily Beast

The feisty airline is the brainchild of entrepreneur Tony Fernandes, a Malaysian of Indian descent who also is a British citizen.

From The Daily Beast

Congress unanimously passed a bill to make Bernardo de Galvez an honorary citizen of the United States in 2014.

From The Daily Beast

Eventually Julio made the decision to become an American Citizen, and even voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 election.

From The Daily Beast

We see a system that will indict a 20-year-old for selling crack but not a police officer for choking the life out of a citizen.

From The Daily Beast

Now what should college give the young citizen, male or female, upon the foundation of schooling we have already sketched out?

From Project Gutenberg

It makes out of the savage raw material which is our basal mental stuff, a citizen.

From Project Gutenberg

The average citizen of three generations ago was probably not aware that he was an extreme individualist.

From Project Gutenberg

The goods are all valued according to the amount of time used in their making and each citizen draws out the same total amount.

From Project Gutenberg

So speaks the ideal official dealing with the ideal citizen in the dream life among the angels.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• inhabitant
• national
• resident
• taxpayer