citizen
Americannoun
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a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection (alien ).
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an inhabitant of a city or town, especially one entitled to its privileges or franchises.
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an inhabitant, or denizen.
The deer is a citizen of our woods.
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a civilian, as distinguished from a soldier, police officer, etc.
noun
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a native registered or naturalized member of a state, nation, or other political community Compare alien
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an inhabitant of a city or town
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a native or inhabitant of any place
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a civilian, as opposed to a soldier, public official, etc
Other Word Forms
- citizeness noun
- citizenly adjective
- noncitizen noun
- uncitizenly adjective
- undercitizen noun
Etymology
Origin of citizen
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
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.
Thousands of flights have been cancelled, and many British citizens who would like to leave remain stuck in the region.
From BBC
Starmer demurred, saying all British citizens were entitled to the same help regardless of their tax status.
At a park, visitors are citizens or patrons.
From Los Angeles Times
The Department of Homeland Security has called fake reports of American citizens being detained.
From Los Angeles Times
A group of Rob Reiner’s closest friends released a statement remembering him as a ‘passionate, brave citizen’ who worked to make the world a better place.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
