citizen

Main Entry:: cit·i·zen
Pronunciation:: \ˈsi-tə-zən also -sən\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of citeien, from cité city
Date:: 14th century

1: an inhabitant of a city or town; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman2 a: a member of a state b: a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it3: a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state

— cit·i·zen·ly

\-zən-lē also -sən-\ adjective

synonyms 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>.

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