citizen
SIH-tih-zuhn
Citizen (noun) means a legally recognised member of a country, with rights such as voting and a passport, and duties such as paying taxes. Example: “She became a French citizen after living there for ten years.”
noun
1
A legally recognised member of a country, with rights such as voting and a passport, and duties such as paying taxes.
"She became a French citizen after living there for ten years."
"Only a citizen can vote in the national elections here."
"He applied for a passport as soon as he became a citizen."
2
A resident of a particular city or town.
"The mayor addressed the citizens of the town at the meeting."
"Every citizen of the town is invited to the summer festival."
"The older citizens of the village gather in the square each morning."
3
An ordinary member of the public, as distinct from officials or authorities.
"The app lets private citizens report potholes directly to the council."
"As a concerned citizen, I wrote to the newspaper about the broken streetlights."
"The police asked any citizen who saw the accident to come forward."
How to use citizen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA legal member of a country or resident of a city, or simply an ordinary member of the public.
Common pairings
law-abiding citizen
senior citizen
private citizen
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Word forms
- Plural
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She became a French _____ after living there for ten years.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman citesain, from Old French cite ("city") plus a suffix meaning "one who belongs to" — ultimately from Latin civitas.
Synonyms
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national
subject
resident
inhabitant
member of a country
burgess
burgher
denizen
townsman
townswoman
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “citizen” mean?
The word “citizen” means a legally recognised member of a country, with rights such as voting and a passport, and duties such as paying taxes. In plain terms, a legal member of a country or resident of a city, or simply an ordinary member of the public.
How do you pronounce “citizen”?
“Citizen” is pronounced SIH-tih-zuhn (/ˈsɪtɪzən/ in IPA).
How do you use “citizen” in a sentence?
Here is “citizen” used in a sentence: “She became a French citizen after living there for ten years.”
What is another word for “citizen”?
Words with a similar meaning to “citizen” include burgess, burgher, denizen, townsman and townswoman.
What is the opposite of “citizen”?
The opposite of “citizen” — its antonyms — are countryfolk, country gentleman, countryman, peasant and villager.
What part of speech is “citizen”?
“Citizen” is a noun.
Where does the word “citizen” come from?
The word “citizen” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman citesain, from Old French cite ("city") plus a suffix meaning "one who belongs to" — ultimately from Latin civitas.
Is “citizen” a common word?
“Citizen” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between a citizen and a resident?
A citizen is a legally recognised member of a country, with full rights such as voting and a passport, and duties such as paying taxes. A resident simply lives in a country, which may be temporary and without those political rights. You can be a resident of a nation without being its citizen.
What is the difference between a citizen and a national?
The terms overlap but are not identical. A citizen holds full membership and rights, including voting. A national owes allegiance to a country and holds its passport, but may lack some rights a citizen has, depending on the country's laws. Every citizen is a national, though not always the reverse.
What are the rights and duties of a citizen?
Rights typically include voting, holding a passport, standing for office, and receiving state protection and services. Duties often include paying taxes, obeying the law, and sometimes jury service or national service. The exact balance varies by country, but citizenship always pairs entitlements with responsibilities.
How does someone become a citizen?
People usually become citizens by birth, either by being born in a country or to citizen parents. Others gain citizenship through naturalisation, a legal process that generally requires a period of residence, good character, and sometimes a language or civics test. Marriage and descent can also open paths to citizenship.
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