compatriot

noun

com·​pa·​tri·​ot kəm-ˈpā-trē-ət 

käm-, 

-trē-ˌät

chiefly British -ˈpa-

1

: a person born, residing, or holding citizenship in the same country as another

We watched our compatriots compete in the Olympics.

2

: companion, colleague

her compatriots in academia

theater compatriots

compatriotic

kəm-ˌpā-trē-ˈä-tik 

ˌkäm-

chiefly British -ˌpa-

adjective

Synonyms of compatriot

• countryman
• citizen
• national

Examples of compatriot in a Sentence

We watched our compatriots compete in the Olympics.

the famous actor and his theater compatriots

Recent Examples on the Web

But on one of the flaking walls in the Spanish Quarter, next to a picture of his compatriot, Marek Hamsik, there is a Subbuteo board showing the team that won the league for the first time after Maradona. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

For me and millions of my compatriots, Mashhad is a cultural, linguistic, and emotional center that feels very much like home. —Davood Moradian, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026

Linda Custard was a co-recipient of the 2025 Linz Award, one of Dallas’ most prestigious civic honors, along with Bess Enloe, her longtime civic compatriot. —Cheryl Hall, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026

Willie Nelson, Joan Baez, the Allman Brothers, Sammy Hagar, Nancy Wilson, Stephen Marley, Billy Strings, Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, the National, Margo Price and nouveau jam act Goose counted among his many musical compatriots. —Erin Osmon, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French compatriote, from Late Latin compatriota, from Latin com- + Late Latin patriota fellow countryman — more at patriot

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for compatriot

• patriot

Kids Definition

compatriot

noun

com·​pa·​tri·​ot kəm-ˈpā-trē-ət 

käm-, 

-trē-ˌät

: a person from one's own country : countryman