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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While foreign nationals can in some circumstances vote in some Irish elections, such as local elections, only Irish citizens and British citizens who live in Ireland can vote in the country's general elections. —Emma Woollacott, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 All the while, citizen scientists kept netting butterfly samples as the population surge gradually spread through eastern, northern and western Europe over the following months, reaching southern Morocco in early November. —Saugat Bolakhe, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024 The White House did not immediately confirm that any Chinese citizens had been returned home. —Eric Tucker and Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024 The measure was placed on the ballot in 1958 by citizen initiative. —Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for citizen 

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 Dec. 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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