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

One begins to think that the condition is hereditary—that, instead of a Habsburg jaw, the wealthy white denizens of New Orleans high society are saddled with emotional problems. —Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026

Skill in understanding the natural world and identifying its denizens. —Big Think, 6 Apr. 2026

Like the January teaser, fans are given glimpses of He-Man and his loyal companions Teela (Camila Mendes), Duncan/Man-at-Arms (Idris Elba), Roboto (Kristen Wiig), Cringer/Battle Cat, and many other familiar Eternia denizens. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026

Many denizens of those across the Middle East are being told to work from home, particularly with the rising gas prices. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Mar. 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