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

Montreal was our point of departure, an enchanting city with fantastic food and charming denizens. —Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026

With the cost of a national Big Game campaign rising significantly, some of Madison Avenue’s top denizens have tested the ploy. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026

Its sources include medieval chroniclers, eccentric antiquaries, and no doubt many denizens of the British Museum’s Reading Room. —Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

The display is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, but Southern denizens should still be able to see several under dark skies. —Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 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