Dictionary

citizen en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɪtɪzən/ (UK)
• (US) audio
• /ˈsɪtɪzən/ (US)
• /ˈsɪtɪsən/ (US)

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. See also city. Displaced native Old English burhsittend and Old English ceasterware.

Meanings

1. A resident of a city or town, especially one with legally recognized rights or duties.
   • [T]hat large body of the working men who were not counted as citizens and had not so much as a vote to serve as an anodyne to their stomachs were likely to get impatient. 1862 July – 1863 August, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “What Florence was Thinking of”, in Romola. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1863, →OCLC, book II, page 180:
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. 2019 October 7, Kate Springer, “Passports for purchase: Open citizenship doors around the world”, in CNN:
   • Libertarian paternalism is the view that, because the way options are presented to citizens affects what they choose, society should present options in a way that “nudges” our intuitive selves to make choices that are more consistent with what our more deliberative selves would have chosen if they were in control. 2012 January 14, Steven Sloman, “The Battle Between Intuition and Deliberation”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 08 Jan 2012, page 74:
   • I am a Roman citizen.
   • Assistant: You'll meet with the managing director and Dr Sinita Brahmachari, the engineer who designed the chair. Peter Mackenzie: Indian, is he? Assistant: She is a British citizen, Minister. Born in Coventry. 1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 4:
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. 1979 October, Boys' Life, page 33:
4. A resident of the heavenly city or (later) of the kingdom of God: a Christian; a good Christian.
5. A civilian, as opposed to a police officer, soldier, or member of some other specialized (usually state) group.
6. (obsolete) An ordinary person, as opposed to nobles and landed gentry on one side and peasants, craftsmen, and laborers on the other.
   • [W]ould Mr. Delvile, who hardly ever spoke but to the high-born, without seeming to think his dignity somewhat injured, deign to receive for a daughter in law the child of a citizen and tradesman? 1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, III.v.6:
7. (capitalized, historical, usually) A term of address among supporters of the French Revolution in France or elsewhere; (later, dated) a term of address among socialists and communists.
   • Citizen, I desire nothing more than to get to Paris, though I could dispense with the escort. 1859, Charles Dickens, “In Secret”, in A Tale of Two Cities, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book III (The Track of a Storm), page 166:
8. (figuratively) A notional inhabitant of a software system; an object or a software application.
   • The HIG delivers Apple's design commandments, the company's definition of what it means to be a good iPhone citizen. 2010, Josh Clark, Tapworthy: Designing Great iPhone Apps, O'Reilly, →ISBN, page 99:

Forms

Antonyms

country gentleman (antonym(s) of “resident of a city”) · villager (antonym(s) of “resident of a city”) · foreigner · alien · countryfolk (antonym(s) of “resident of a city”) · illegal alien · outsider · stranger · alien · peasant (antonym(s) of “resident of a city”) · countryman (antonym(s) of “resident of a city”) · illegal

Deriveds

citizen sovereign · citizen of nature · citizenism · netizen · citizenry · Usenetizen · citizen scientist · NCTzen · citizenship · citizen soldier · Citizens' Charter · corporate citizen · citizen journalism · citizenlike · fedizen · sovereign citizen · shitizen · dual citizen · birthright citizen · citizens' band · Twittizen · citizenhood · protocitizen · citizen magistrate · citizen's arrest · citizen of the world · cocitizen · citizenish · citizen media · citizeness · cybercitizen · e-citizen · citizen science · citizens' media · supercitizen · citizenize · anticitizen · semicitizen · uncitizen · citizen prince · citizenist · citizendom · concitizen · multicitizen · undercitizen · citizenization · citizen life · citizen king · citizen band · noncitizen · world citizen · citizenise · cocitizenship · private citizen · market citizen · citizenly · citizen journalist · citizens band · First Citizen · fellow citizen

Hyponyms

first-class citizen (person who is legally recognized as a member or resident) · third-class citizen (person who is legally recognized as a member or resident) · second-class citizen (person who is legally recognized as a member or resident)

Relateds

city · civilian · citify · civil

Synonyms

cityite · burgher · inhabitant · native · townsman · denizen · national · burgess · denizen · resident · townswoman · countryman · occupant · local · burgess · freeman · burgher · comrade

Translations (380)

de Einwohner (legal resident of a city) · es ciudadana (legal member of a state) · el κάτοικος (resident of any particular place) · tk raýat (legal member of a state) · sw mwananchi (legal member of a state) · de Staatsbürgerin (legal member of a state) · et linnaelanik (legal resident of a city) · sl civilist (civilian) · bg циви́лен (civilian) · yue 公民 (legal member of a state) · pt civil (civilian) · nb statsborger (legal member of a state) · it cittadina (resident of any particular place) · ja 国民 (legal member of a state) · ru ми́рная жи́тельница (civilian) · mk жителка (resident of any particular place) · gd saoranach (resident of any particular place) · hu város polgára (legal resident of a city) · gd saoranach (legal resident of a city) · ru гражда́нский челове́к (civilian) · da civilist (civilian) · ru жи́тель (resident of any particular place) · ja 人民 (antonym to "subject") · be насе́льніца (resident of any particular place) · fi kansalainen (legal member of a state) · cs občanka (legal member of a state) · it cittadino (resident of any particular place) · myv ошаля (legal member of a state) · he אֶזרָח (legal member of a state) · pt morador (resident of any particular place) · ru жи́тельница (legal resident of a city) · ro civil (civilian) · he אֶזְרָח (civilian) · bg гра́жданка (antonym to "subject") · ru гражда́нка (antonym to "subject") · ug گراژدان (legal member of a state) · nl burger (legal member of a state) · fi kansalainen (resident of any particular place) · mr नागरिक (legal member of a state) · cy dinesydd (legal member of a state) · mt ċittadin (legal member of a state) · si පුරවැසියා (legal member of a state) · mk граѓанин (legal resident of a city) · bg жи́телка (legal resident of a city) · mk државјанин (legal member of a state) · sh grȁđanin (legal resident of a city) · da statsborger (legal member of a state) · mi tangatawhenua (legal member of a state) · bg жи́тел (resident of any particular place) · ko 시민 (legal resident of a city) · ja 民 (antonym to "subject") · sk obyvateľ (resident of any particular place) · sh grȁđanin (antonym to "subject") · be грамадзя́нка (legal member of a state) · bg жи́тел (legal resident of a city) · eo civitanino (legal member of a state) · sk občianka (legal member of a state) · ug پۇقرا (legal member of a state) · id warga sipil (civilian) · sk občan (legal member of a state) · ka მოქალაქე (legal member of a state) · pt moradora (resident of any particular place) · sh др̀жавља̄нка (legal member of a state) · sh цивѝлист (civilian) · ky атуул (legal member of a state) · pl obywatel (legal resident of a city) · sh цѝвӣл (civilian) · ky жаран (legal member of a state) · oc ciutadana (legal member of a state) · hy քաղաքացի (legal resident of a city) · pl mieszkanka (resident of any particular place) · cs civilistka (civilian) · nl stadsburger (legal resident of a city) · mk државјанка (legal member of a state) · nrf citouoyenne (legal member of a state) · ur شَہْری (legal member of a state) · fr habitant (resident of any particular place) · hu lakó (resident of any particular place) · pt citadino (legal resident of a city) · yue 國民 /国民 (legal member of a state) · ru горожа́нин (legal resident of a city) · el πολίτης (legal member of a state) · cmn 國民 /国民 (legal member of a state) · gmh burgære (legal member of a state) · hu állampolgár (legal member of a state) · got 𐌱𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌲𐌾𐌰 (legal member of a state) · hu polgár (antonym to "subject") · crh vatandaş (legal member of a state) · be насе́льнік (resident of any particular place) · rsk граждан (legal member of a state) · it civile (civilian) · nl staatsburger (legal member of a state) · lv civiliste (civilian) · hu városi polgár (legal resident of a city) · bn নাগরিক (legal member of a state) · de Bürgerin (legal member of a state) · cdo 公民 (legal member of a state) · mk граѓанин (legal member of a state) · my နိုင်ငံသား (legal member of a state) · sh stanòvnīk (resident of any particular place) · sh stanòvnica (resident of any particular place) · ja 市民 (legal resident of a city) · lb Biergerin (legal resident of a city) · fr citoyenne (legal member of a state) · cdo 國民 /国民 (legal member of a state) · he אֶזְרָחִית (civilian) · et tsivilist (civilian) · wuu 國民 /国民 (legal member of a state) · sh dr̀žavljanin (legal member of a state) · nrf citouoyen (legal resident of a city) · sh стано̀вница (resident of any particular place) · ms warganegara (legal member of a state) · pl mieszkaniec (legal resident of a city) · la burgēnsis (legal resident of a city) · sh grȁđānka (antonym to "subject") · nan-hbl 國民 /国民 (legal member of a state) · sh civilistica (civilian) · sv civilist (civilian) · ar مَدَنِيّ (civilian) · gl cidadán (legal member of a state) · be жыха́рка (resident of any particular place) · kmr welatvan (legal member of a state) · de Einwohner (resident of any particular place) · pt cidadão (antonym to "subject") · hi नागरिक (legal member of a state) · ps تابع (legal member of a state) · mk граѓанка (legal resident of a city) · lv civilists (civilian) · el πολίτης (civilian) · ka მოქალაქე (legal resident of a city) · az vətəndaş (legal member of a state) · be грамадзя́нін (legal member of a state) · sq shtetas (legal member of a state) · tr yurttaş (legal member of a state) · lo ພົນລະເມືອງ (legal member of a state) · ro cetățean (legal member of a state) · fi kaupunkilainen (legal resident of a city) · is ríkisborgari (legal member of a state) · sl meščanka (legal resident of a city) · ml പൗരൻ (legal member of a state) · ru ми́рный жи́тель (civilian) · ga cathróir (legal resident of a city) · rsk гражданка (legal resident of a city) · sco ceetizen (legal member of a state) · cmn 平民 (civilian) · shn ၵူၼ်းမိူင်း (legal member of a state) · ar مَدَنِيَّة (civilian) · tr halk (civilian) · de Einwohnerin (legal resident of a city) · de Staatsbürger (legal member of a state) · nb innbygger (resident of any particular place) · ru жи́тельница (resident of any particular place) · ja 文民 (civilian) · wuu 公民 (legal member of a state) · de Zivilist (civilian) · rsk державян (legal member of a state) · myv ошломань (legal member of a state) · ca ciutadà (legal member of a state) · rsk державянка (legal member of a state) · hi शहरी (legal member of a state) · ceb lungsoranon (legal member of a state) · pam memalen (legal member of a state) · bg гра́жданче (legal member of a state) · cs civilista (civilian) · ro civilă (civilian) · vi công dân (legal member of a state) · mn иргэн (legal member of a state) · fa غِیرنِظامی (civilian) · mk граѓанка (legal member of a state) · tg гражданин (legal member of a state) · uk громадя́нин (legal member of a state) · mk жител (resident of any particular place) · be жы́целька (resident of any particular place) · myv ошава (legal member of a state) · uk жи́тель (resident of any particular place) · ca ciutadà (legal resident of a city) · sh cìvīl (civilian) · bg гра́жданин (antonym to "subject") · et kodanik (legal member of a state) · pl obywatelka (legal member of a state) · hu városlakó (legal resident of a city) · de Bürger (legal member of a state) · ko 주민 (resident of any particular place) · ta பிரஜை (legal member of a state) · fr résidente (resident of any particular place) · pt habitante (resident of any particular place) · sh dr̀žavljānka (legal member of a state) · id warga (resident of any particular place) · sl meščan (legal resident of a city) · sh цивилистица (civilian) · et kodanik (antonym to "subject") · olo kanzalaine (legal member of a state) · kmr hevwelatî (legal member of a state) · el υπήκοος (legal member of a state) · cs obyvatel (resident of any particular place) · ru по́дданный (legal member of a state) · fr résident (resident of any particular place) · uz shaharlik (legal member of a state) · uk громадя́нка (legal member of a state) · el δημότης (legal resident of a city) · az yurddaş (legal member of a state) · pl mieszkaniec (resident of any particular place) · es ciudadano (legal member of a state) · bcl namamanwaan (legal member of a state) · ps وګړى (legal member of a state) · pl cywil (civilian) · ml പൗരൻ (civilian) · nl particulier (civilian) · lt civilis (civilian) · si පුරවැසියා (legal resident of a city) · nan-hbl 公民 (legal member of a state) · sh гра̏ђа̄нка (antonym to "subject") · cs obyvatelka (resident of any particular place) · ps تبعه (legal member of a state) · hy քաղաքացի (legal member of a state) · sh др̀жављанин (legal member of a state) · tt ватандаш (legal member of a state) · ga cathróir (resident of any particular place) · nrf citouoyenne (legal resident of a city) · ga sibhialtach (civilian) · sk civilista (civilian) · fr civile (civilian) · sl občanka (legal resident of a city) · ja 臣民 (antonym to "subject") · tl mamamayan (legal member of a state) · cmn 公民 (legal member of a state) · fi siviili (civilian) · ps رعيت (legal member of a state) · mk цивил (civilian) · sh гра̏ђанин (legal resident of a city) · fr citoyen (legal member of a state) · tg ғайринизомӣ (civilian) · ar سَاكِن (resident of any particular place) · fr habitant (legal resident of a city) · el πολίτης (antonym to "subject") · sh građanska osoba (civilian) · lt civilisė (civilian) · sv statsborgare (legal member of a state) · fr habitante (legal resident of a city) · pl obywatel (legal member of a state) · gl cidadá (legal member of a state) · ar سَاكِنَة (resident of any particular place) · sl prebivalka (resident of any particular place) · ru шта́тский (civilian) · ru жи́тель (legal resident of a city) · ta குடிமக்கள் (legal member of a state) · it cittadina (legal member of a state) · id warga negara (legal member of a state) · it residente (resident of any particular place) · be жы́цель (resident of any particular place) · nrf citouoyen (legal member of a state) · cs občan (legal member of a state) · tr vatandaş (legal member of a state) · kk азамат (legal member of a state) · pt residente (resident of any particular place) · nl inwoner (resident of any particular place) · sv innevånare (resident of any particular place) · fr civil (civilian) · ja 公民 (legal member of a state) · oc ciutadan (legal member of a state) · uk циві́льний (civilian) · fa-ira شَهْرْوَنْد (legal member of a state) · uk ме́шканець (resident of any particular place) · km ពលរដ្ឋ (legal member of a state) · yi בירגער (legal member of a state) · uk циві́льна люди́на (civilian) · id warga kota (legal resident of a city) · tk grajjdan (legal member of a state) · it cittadino (legal member of a state) · lt pilietis (legal member of a state) · gd saoranach (legal member of a state) · nn statsborgar (legal member of a state) · uk ме́шканка (resident of any particular place) · eo civitano (legal member of a state) · be цыві́льная асо́ба (civilian) · grc πολίτης (legal member of a state) · kmr welatî (legal member of a state) · sl državljanka (legal member of a state) · nl poorter (legal resident of a city) · ky гражданин (legal member of a state) · fr citoyen (legal resident of a city) · ru гражда́нское лицо́ (civilian) · hu civil (civilian) · ru граждани́н (antonym to "subject") · fr citoyenne (legal resident of a city) · eo civilulo (civilian) · cmn 居民 (resident of any particular place) · lt pilietė (legal member of a state) · be жыха́р (resident of any particular place) · bg гра́жданин (legal member of a state) · uk жи́телька (resident of any particular place) · nl burger (legal resident of a city) · ba граждан (legal member of a state) · ta குடிமகள் (legal member of a state) · ru граждани́н (legal member of a state) · fr habitante (resident of any particular place) · ca ciutadana (legal member of a state) · ko 민간인 (civilian) · da borger (legal member of a state) · kab taɣermant (legal member of a state) · pt citadina (legal resident of a city) · sh цивѝлисткиња (civilian) · bg гра́жданка (legal member of a state) · mi kirirarau (legal member of a state) · uz grajdan (legal member of a state) · nb borger (legal member of a state) · ga saoránach (legal member of a state) · sl prebivalec (resident of any particular place) · ar مُوَاطِنَة (legal member of a state) · cy dinesydd (civilian) · sh гра̏ђанин (antonym to "subject") · rsk граждан (legal resident of a city) · sh grȁđānka (legal resident of a city) · ar مُوَاطِن (legal member of a state) · rsk гражданка (legal member of a state) · it cittadino (legal resident of a city) · uk циві́льна осо́ба (civilian) · cmn 市民 (antonym to "subject") · fi kansalainen (civilian) · am ዜጋ (legal member of a state) · sl civilistka (civilian) · ru гражда́нка (legal member of a state) · tg шаҳрванд (legal member of a state) · sh стано̀внӣк (resident of any particular place) · kab aɣerman (legal member of a state) · sh civìlist (civilian) · fi kansalainen (antonym to "subject") · ru по́дданная (legal member of a state) · is íbúi (legal resident of a city) · mk граѓанка (antonym to "subject") · sk civilistka (civilian) · ja 民衆 (antonym to "subject") · sv medborgare (legal member of a state) · id rakyat (legal member of a state) · bg циви́лно лице́ (civilian) · ro cetățeană (legal member of a state) · ta குடிமகன் (legal member of a state) · la cīvis (legal member of a state) · nb sivilist (civilian) · mk граѓанин (antonym to "subject") · ast ciudadanu (legal member of a state) · nl burger (resident of any particular place) · ja 民間人 (civilian) · sl državljan (legal member of a state) · sl občan (legal resident of a city) · sk obyvateľka (resident of any particular place) · da indbygger (resident of any particular place) · th พลเมือง (legal member of a state) · mn ᠢᠷᠭᠡᠨ (legal member of a state) · fi porvari (legal resident of a city) · sh civìlistkinja (civilian) · eo civilulino (civilian) · tr sivil (civilian) · it cittadina (legal resident of a city) · sv innevånare (legal resident of a city) · bg жи́телка (resident of any particular place) · nn borgar (legal member of a state) · ru гражда́нский (civilian) · is borgari (legal resident of a city) · ur ناگْرِک (legal member of a state) · ru горожа́нка (legal resident of a city) · sh гра̏ђа̄нка (legal resident of a city) · cmn 市民 (legal resident of a city) · de Bürgerin (legal resident of a city) · et eraisik (civilian) · lv pilsone (legal member of a state) · de Bürger (legal resident of a city) · pt cidadã (legal member of a state) · pdt Birja (legal member of a state) · lb Bierger (legal resident of a city) · be цыві́льны чалаве́к (civilian) · ja 住民 (resident of any particular place) · de Zivilistin (civilian) · pt cidadão (legal member of a state) · sh грађанска особа (civilian) · et kodanik (resident of any particular place) · nl burger (civilian) · ko 국민 (legal member of a state) · af burger (legal member of a state) · lv pilsonis (legal member of a state)