citizen

Forms

Plural: citizens

Definitions

1.A resident of a city or town, especially one with legally recognized rights or duties.
2.A legally recognized member of a state, with associated rights and obligations; a person considered in terms of this role.
- He is also a citizen of Antigua, because he purchased a home – where he now resides with his family.
- I am a Roman citizen.
3.An inhabitant or occupant: a member of any place.
- Diogenes reckoned himself a citizen of the world.
- A jellyfish.. carries poison cells that can sting other citizens of the sea.
4.A resident of the heavenly city or (later) of the kingdom of God: a Christian; a good Christian.

Frequency

Overall

Common· #1054

By learning goal

Everyday conversation: Uncommon
General reading & writing: Common
Academic: Uncommon
Literature: Rare

Related words

Antonyms

alien

Word family

citizenship

Etymology

From Middle English citeseyn (“inhabitant of a city or town”), citezein, citisein, from Anglo-Norman citesain (“city-dweller, town-dweller”), citesein, citezein, alteration of citeien from cite (“city”) + -ien (“-ain”) (probable variant of cithein perhaps influenced by dainzain (“denizen”), deinzein), from Old French cite (“city”) + -ien (whence French citoyen), from earlier citet, from Latin civitatem, citatem, from civis.