Citizen Definition, Examples & Common Usage

Meaning 1：legal resident with rights (citizen)

citizen 🔊

/ˈsɪtɪzən/

A person who legally belongs to a country and has rights like voting and protection from that country.

Citizen holding passport with proud expression in park

legal resident with rights 🔊

➕

/ˈliːɡəl ˈrɛzɪdənt wɪð raɪts/

A citizen is a person who officially belongs to a country, enjoying legal rights such as voting and protection, and fulfilling duties like paying taxes.

📁 Category：Countries & Government 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'civis' (citizen) + '-ian'; root civ- meaning city or community.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'city' + 'zen' (as in Zen meditation) - a citizen meditates on his or her city duties.

📖 Example

As a citizen of Australia, Maria can vote in elections and gets help from Australian embassies when she travels abroad. 🔊 Maria, as an Australian citizen, is able to vote in elections and receive assistance from Australian embassies while traveling overseas.

🔗 Collocations

citizen of the world – a person who considers the entire world as their home and embraces global perspectives

senior citizen – an elderly person, often retired and receiving benefits

law-abiding citizen – a person who consistently obeys the laws of their country

🔄 Synonyms

national (n.) – a person who belongs to a particular nation by birth or naturalization

resident (n.) – a person who lives in a place, though not necessarily with full legal rights

subject (n.) – a person under the authority of a monarch or state, historically with fewer rights

🚫 Antonyms

foreigner (n.) – a person from another country who does not have citizenship in the current country

alien (n.) – a person who is not a citizen of the country where they reside

non-citizen (n.) – any person who does not hold citizenship in the given country

🌱 Derivatives

citizenship (n.) – the status of being a citizen, with rights and responsibilities

citizenry (n.) – the entire body of citizens of a country

citizen's arrest (n.) – an arrest made by a private citizen rather than a police officer

📖 Cultural Story

Evolved from Latin 'civis' via Old French 'citeien'. Historically distinguished from 'subject' by implying rights and participation in democratic governance.