denizen

noun

den·​i·​zen ˈde-nə-zən 

plural denizens

1

: inhabitant

denizens of the forest

2

government : a person allowed residence in a foreign country

3

: someone who frequents a place

nightclub denizens

—often used figuratively

… daylilies, purple loosestrife, and other roadside denizens now firmly rooted in Maine …

—Rebecca Sawyer-Fay

Synonyms of denizen

• lover
• fan
• familiar
• patron
• rat
• habitué
• guest
• frequenter

Examples of denizen in a Sentence

one of those muscle-bound denizens of the gym

the polar bear is an iconic denizen of the snowy Arctic

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, the Kalshi denizens have raised that number just two points, to 54%. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 June 2026

And in a bizarre flash of insight this Windy City denizen created one of the great warm weather whiskey drinks of our time. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 20 June 2026

The city has taken a slate of actions to help sweat-dripping denizens find refuge from the heat, including opening up additional cooling centers and expanding pool hours. — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026

One country whose denizens have had a particularly enjoyable time in the United States has been Scotland. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English denizeine, from Anglo-French denisein, denzein inhabitant, inner part, inner, from denz within, from Late Latin deintus, from Latin de- + intus within — more at ent-

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

denizen

noun

den·​i·​zen ˈden-ə-zən 

: inhabitant

especially : a person, animal, or plant found in a particular region or environment