citizen

[sit-uh-zuhn, -suhn] / ˈsɪt ə zən, -sən /

NOUN

person native to or naturalized in a country

Synonyms

STRONGEST

inhabitant national resident taxpayer

STRONG

burgher civilian commoner cosmopolite denizen dweller householder occupant settler townsman townsperson townswoman villager voter

WEAK

John/Jane Q. Public burgess freeman/woman member of body politic member of community naturalized person subject urbanite

Antonyms

STRONG

alien foreigner

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He serves on the citizen oversight committee for the San Francisco Unified School District bond program.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Ashouri, a U.S. citizen, spent her childhood frequenting businesses in Westwood, but she no longer feels comfortable there, fearing some sort of altercation.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

If Powell stays, the Justice Department would not be pursuing a private citizen but a sitting central banker, raising the stakes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

If the turmoil affects her ability to travel to and from Haiti as an American citizen, she said, the risk is even more dire for TPS holders.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

Suppose a citizen leaks information that exposes government wrongdoing, but breaks the law in doing so.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Vocabulary lists containing citizen

Election Lingo

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Electoral Elocution: The Verbiage of Voting

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"The Civil Rights Movement"

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