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citizen

3 ENTRIES FOUND:
  1. citizen (noun)
  2. citizen's arrest (noun)
  3. senior citizen (noun)

cit·i·zen

noun \ˈsi-tə-zən also -sən\

Definition of CITIZEN

1
: an inhabitant of a city or town; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2
a : a member of a state b : a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
3
: a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state
— cit·i·zen·ly\-zən-lē also -sən-\ adjective

Examples of CITIZEN

  1. She was a United States citizen but lived most of her life abroad.
  2. a group of Japanese citizens

Origin of CITIZEN

Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of citeien, from cité city
First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CITIZEN

Synonym Discussion of CITIZEN

citizen, subject, national 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>. subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch <the king's subjects>. 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>.

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