CITIZEN

Etymology

From Middle English citeseyn, citezein,

borrowed from Anglo-Norman citesain (“burgher; city-dweller”), citezein etc., probably a variant of cithein under influence of deinzein (“denizen”),

from Anglo-Norman and Old French citeain etc. and citaien, citeien etc. ("burgher"; modern French citoyen), from* cité ("settlement; cathedral city, city"; modern French cité) + *-ain or -ien (“-an, -ian”).

See city and hewe.

cytesin (obsolete)

Noun

citizen (plural citizens)

1. A resident of a city or town, especially one with legally-recognized rights or duties. [from 14th c.] synonyms ▲hyponyms ▼quotations ▼Synonyms: burgess, burgher, cityite, freeman
2. A legally-recognized member of a state, with associated rights and obligations; a person considered in terms of this role. [from 14th c.] quotations ▼ synonyms, antonyms ▲hyponyms ▼I am a Roman **citizen.Synonyms: countryman, nationalAntonyms: alien, illegal alien, foreigner, (colloquial) illegal
3. An inhabitant or occupant: a member of any place. [from 14th c.] quotations ▼

Diogenes reckoned himself a *citizen** of the world.*

synonyms, antonyms ▲Synonyms: denizen, local, inhabitant, native, occupant, residentAntonyms: alien, outsider, stranger

4. (Christianity) A resident of the heavenly city or (later) of the kingdom of God: a Christian; a good Christian. [from 15th c.]
5. A civilian, as opposed to a police officer, soldier, or member of some other specialized (usually state) group. [from 16th c.]
6. (obsolete) An ordinary person, as opposed to nobles and landed gentry on one side and peasants, craftsmen, and laborers on the other. [17th–19th c.] quotations ▼
7. (now historical, usually capitalized) A term of address among French citizens during the French Revolution or towards its supporters elsewhere; (later, dated) a term of address among socialists and communists. [from 18th c.] quotations ▼ synonym ▲Synonym: (term of address among communists) comrade
8. (computing) An object. hyponyms ▼

Synonyms

• burgess
• burgher
• denizen
• townsman, townswoman

Antonyms

• (resident of a city): countryfolk, country gentleman, countryman, peasant, villager

Hyponyms

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

Derived terms

• anticitizen
• citizen band
• citizendom
• citizen life
• citizenlike
• citizenly
• citizen's arrest
• citizens' band
• citizens band
• citizens' media
• citizen soldier
• citizen sovereign

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Related terms

• citify
• city
• civil
• civilian