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

• countryman
• landsman

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

In Asia, the story would take hold that Beijing was never able to peacefully persuade its compatriots to join a greater China. —Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

Nor could the authors conclude definitively that the chimps were deliberately consuming ethanol-rich fruits and sharing it with their compatriots. —Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025

But most congregants want to help their compatriots, AP reported. —Martin Vassolo, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025

Their compatriots and expatriates turned the first five days of the Miami Open into a Fonseca fest. —Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

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