citizen

[sit-uh-zuh n, -suh n] /ˈsɪt ə zən, -sən/
noun
1.
a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection (distinguished from alien).
2.
an inhabitant of a city or town, especially one entitled to its privileges or franchises.
3.
an inhabitant, or denizen:
The deer is a citizen of our woods.
4.
a civilian, as distinguished from a soldier, police officer, etc.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English citisein < Anglo-French citesein, Old French citeain, equivalent to cite city + -ain -an; Anglo-French s perhaps by association with deinzain denizen
Related forms
citizenly, adjective
noncitizen, noun
uncitizenly, adjective
undercitizen, noun
Can be confused
citizen, resident.
Examples from the web for citizen
  • Workshops or citizen advisory committees and juries can be held to vet the issues involved.
  • Every city is a potential battleground, every citizen a target.
  • They're also citizens, who have citizen values-including saving the planet from global warming.
  • With this sort of appropriate task structure, you can become a useful citizen.
  • It must build citizen leaders who can apply knowledge directly to pressing problems and recognize areas of need.
  • He, as a citizen, pays the taxes that support his museum.
  • Liang also demonstrated to officialdom that they need not view the mere existence of citizen groups as an outright threat.
  • No wonder that the honest citizen awakened by the loud cry is not in the best of humor.
  • But whatever the services a citizen has rendered, he must expect honors only to the extent of the national recognition.
  • The citizen also continued his route, trembling from head to foot, and every now and then looking behind him.
British Dictionary definitions for citizen

citizen

/ˈsɪtɪzən/
noun
1.
a native registered or naturalized member of a state, nation, or other political community Compare alien
2.
an inhabitant of a city or town
3.
a native or inhabitant of any place
4.
a civilian, as opposed to a soldier, public official, etc
related
adjective civil
Derived Forms
citizeness (ˈsɪtɪzənɪs; -ˌnɛs) noun:feminine
citizenly, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-French citesein, from Old French citeien, from cité,city
Word Origin and History for citizen
n.

early 14c., "inhabitant of a city," from Anglo-French citezein (spelling subsequently altered, probably by influence of denizen), from Old French citeien "city-dweller, town-dweller, citizen" (12c., Modern French citoyen), from cite (see city) + -ain (see -ian). Replaced Old English burhsittend and ceasterware. Sense of "inhabitant of a country" is late 14c. Citizen's arrest recorded from 1941; citizen's band (radio) from 1947. Citizen of the world (late 15c.) translates Greek kosmopolites.

Slang definitions & phrases for citizen

citizen

noun

A person of a more conservative, established, and prosaic caste than oneself; square (1960s+ Black & counterculture)


Citizen

Related Terms

john q citizen