Synonyms of citizen

citizen

noun

ˈsi-tə-zən 

1

as in national

a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it

conscientious citizens who regard voting as a duty as well as a right

Synonyms & Similar Words

• national
• resident
• freeman
• subject
• inhabitant
• native
• countryman
• compatriot
• nonimmigrant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• alien
• foreigner
• stranger
• noncitizen
• immigrant
• nonnative

2

as in villager

a person who lives in a town on a permanent basis

claimed that the good citizens of the town were sick of high property taxes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• villager
• resident
• inhabitant
• native
• townsman
• burgher
• occupant
• resider
• townspeople
• town
• national
• habitant
• townie
• dweller
• denizen
• townswoman
• townsfolk
• suburbanite
• subject
• cliff dweller
• urbanite

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• visitor
• tourist
• foreigner
• guest
• alien
• noncitizen
• transient
• nonnative
• gownsman

Synonym Chooser

How is the word citizen distinct from other similar nouns?

The words national and subject are common synonyms of citizen. While all three words mean "a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state," citizen is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people.

the rights of a free citizen

Where would national be a reasonable alternative to citizen?

Although the words national and citizen have much in common, national designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state.

American nationals working in the Middle East

When could subject be used to replace citizen?

The meanings of subject and citizen largely overlap; however, subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch.

the king's subjects

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of citizen

Who has engaged in long-term, indiscriminate surveillance of governments, enterprises, and ordinary citizens worldwide, and has stolen the data of other countries' citizens on a massive scale? — Justin Fishel, ABC News, 17 July 2026

For decades, the CEO of global communications firm Edelman has tracked how workers, consumers, and citizens really feel about the institutions around them. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 17 July 2026

Leaders of the legislative body plan to send the new law to the Onondaga County’s Board of Elections, so it can be placed on the ballot in November for citizens to vote on. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

As levels of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide skyrocketed, for the first time, emergency messaging directly appealed to citizens via television, radio, and print media to reduce energy consumption and automobile use. — Rebecca Florsheim, STAT, 17 July 2026

Phrases Containing citizen

• senior citizen