compatriot

noun

com·​pa·​tri·​ot kəm-ˈpā-trē-ət How to pronounce compatriot (audio)
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 How to pronounce compatriot (audio)
ˌkäm-
 chiefly British  -ˌpa-
adjective

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
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.
Now a protector of animals and a champion of the downtrodden, Sonja runs afoul of the tyrant Draygan (Robert Sheehan) and ends up enslaved alongside other gladiators for sport, ultimately leading a revolt alongside her new compatriots. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025 But, of course, tennis is an individual sport, and each player in the tournament is battling to be the last one standing, including every American facing compatriots. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025 His Argentinian compatriot Jorge Sampaoli resigned before Marseille had even started pre-season in 2022, while Spaniard Marcelino lasted only seven matches the following year, hurriedly handing in his notice after claiming to have been threatened during a meeting with the club’s supporters’ groups. Tom Williams, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025 Kahani’s work is of a piece with that of bigger-name compatriots like Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof in its protest against the Iranian government, though his droll-to-devastating approach is very much his own. Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for compatriot

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of compatriot was in 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compatriot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compatriot. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

compatriot

noun
com·​pa·​tri·​ot kəm-ˈpā-trē-ət How to pronounce compatriot (audio)
käm-,
-trē-ˌät
: a person from one's own country : countryman

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