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

The country is more divided than ever, housing prices have hit an all-time high, and many denizens of the United States of America fantasize about fleeing abroad. —Max Wittert, New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2025

Again, his list will keep growing and changing; fret not, North County denizens as Bigcas has primarily started in South County, moving his way up north. —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 25 Nov. 2025

Shot in a straightforward style with an acute attention to detail, Pollak shows the urban landscapes and multi-ethnic denizens of Tel Aviv through Khaled’s eyes. —Alissa Simon, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025

The Moana trailer offers the first look at the denizens of Motunui, Johnson’s shape-shifting demigod Maui and the intimidating tribe of Kakamora. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025

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