citizen

noun

cit·​i·​zen ˈsi-tə-zən How to pronounce citizen (audio)
 also  -sən
Synonyms of citizennext
1
a
: a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
She was an American citizen but lived most of her life abroad.
b
: a member of a state
2
: an inhabitant of a city or town
especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
3
: a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state
Soldiers were sent to protect the citizens.
citizenly
ˈsi-tə-zən-lē How to pronounce citizen (audio)
 also  -sən-
adjective

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for citizen

citizen, subject, national mean a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state.

citizen is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people.

the rights of a free citizen

subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch.

the king's subjects

national designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state.

American nationals working in the Middle East

Examples of citizen in a Sentence

She was a United States citizen but lived most of her life abroad. a group of Japanese citizens
Recent Examples on the Web Another, a German citizen of Chinese descent, was an assistant to a member of the European Parliament representing Germany’s far right. —Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2024 How the citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina try to help For the families of the deceased, there is often no closure. —Ingrid Gercama, NPR, 27 Apr. 2024 The court ordered that the men, all of whom were identified in the media as citizens of Tajikistan, also be held in custody until May 22. —CBS News, 27 Apr. 2024 Even under its first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s impressive electoral apparatus did not guarantee equality before the law or ensure essential liberties to citizens. —Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024 The hostages include citizens of each country. More than 130 hostages, including five Americans, are believed to be in Hamas captivity in Gaza since the start of its war with Israel last fall. —Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024 Tensions between Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel simmered and support for a two-state-solution plummeted. —Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024 The legislation would also send $26 billion in wartime assistance to Israel and humanitarian relief to citizens of Gaza, and $8 billion to counter Chinese threats in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. —Mary Clare Jalonick, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024 Why can't a Louisville citizen be directly involved in the negotiation talks? —Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 15 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'citizen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of citeien, from cité city

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of citizen was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing citizen

Dictionary Entries Near citizen

Citigradae

citizen

citizen's arrest

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Citizen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citizen. Accessed 1 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

citizen

noun
cit·​i·​zen ˈsit-ə-zən How to pronounce citizen (audio)
1
: a person who lives in a city or town
2
a
: a member of a state
b
: a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it
Etymology

Middle English citizein, "citizen, resident of a town," derived from early French citeien (same meaning), from cité "town," derived from Latin civitas "state of being a resident of a town, citizenship," from civis "citizen" — related to city, civil

Legal Definition

citizen

noun
cit·​i·​zen
1
: a native or naturalized individual who owes allegiance to a government (as of a state or nation) and is entitled to the enjoyment of governmental protection and to the exercise of civil rights see also Scott v. Sandford compare resident

Note: Under the Fourteenth Amendment, “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” A person born outside of the U.S. to parents who were born or naturalized in the U.S. is also a citizen of the U.S. A corporation is not considered a citizen for purposes of the privileges and immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. A corporation is, however, deemed a citizen of the state in which it is incorporated or has its principal place of business for purposes of diversity jurisdiction.

2
: a resident of a town or state who is also a U.S. native or was naturalized in the U.S.
Etymology

Anglo-French citezein, alteration of Old French citeien, from cité city

More from Merriam-Webster on citizen

Nglish: Translation of citizen for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of citizen for Arabic Speakers

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