ˈsid.əzən, -itə- also -əsən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of Old French citeien, from cité city + -ien -ian — more at city
1.
a. : an inhabitant of a city or town ; especially : one that is entitled to the civic rights and privileges of a freeman
b. : a townsman as contrasted with a rustic
both citizens and peasants
2.
a. : a member of a state : one who is claimed as a member of a state
b. : a native or naturalized person of either sex who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to reciprocal protection from it and to enjoyment of the rights of citizenship
all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside — U.S. Constitution
— compare alien , subject
3. : a resident in or member of a community or institution (as a school) — compare inhabitant
4. : a civilian as opposed to a soldier, policeman, or other specialized servant or functionary of the state : a commoner without the interests or affiliations of any special group
not only by professionals but also by parents and citizens — J.B.Conant
Synonyms:
subject , national : citizen may indicate being a member of a sovereign state, especially one showing democratic forms and usages, owing it allegiance, and, usually, sharing in individual political rights. subject may imply a state of subjection to a person, as a monarch, without much sense of membership in a political community or sharing in political rights
the line of distinction between the citizen and the subject, the free and the subjugated races — R.B.Taney
It may on the other hand simply indicate membership in a political community with a personal sovereign to whom allegiance is owed
subjects of Saxon Aella — William Wordsworth
national , a more general word, may apply to anyone owing permanent allegiance to a nation and usually indicates one belonging to a broad category that includes both people who are legally citizens or subjects and also people who have not attained such legal status
Polish nationals in this country