citizen

cit·i·zen

noun \ˈsi-tə-zən also -sən\

Definition of CITIZEN

1

: an inhabitant of a city or town; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman

2

a : a member of a state

b : a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it

3

: a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state

— cit·i·zen·ly \-zən-lē also -sən-\ adjective

Examples of CITIZEN

1. She was a United States citizen but lived most of her life abroad.
2. a group of Japanese citizens

Origin of CITIZEN

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CITIZEN

Synonyms

freeman, national, subject

Antonyms

alien, noncitizen

Related Words

compatriot, countryman; inhabitant, native, nonimmigrant, resident

Near Antonyms

foreigner, stranger; immigrant, nonnative

Synonym Discussion of 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>.

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism