CITIZEN


Meaning of CITIZEN in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈsi-tə-zən also ]

-sən noun

Etymology: Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of citeien, from cité city

Date: 14th century

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

Synonyms:

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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.