easy
The new citizen received a passport after the ceremony.
What does Citizen mean?
A citizen is a legal member of a country or state, or sometimes a person who lives in a city.
Dictionary definition
A legally recognized member of a country or state, usually with particular rights and responsibilities; citizen can also mean an inhabitant of a city or an ordinary civilian.
Example sentences
Citizen in a sentence
medium
Citizens can have rights and responsibilities defined by their country's laws.
hard
The city asked each citizen to comment on the park plan.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice citizen in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Quick practice
⬡ Earn 5 Honey
Practice the meaning of Citizen
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What is the main legal meaning of citizen?
Citizenship is a legal status; a resident or visitor does not automatically have that status.
Practice 2
Which statement is accurate?
Residence describes where a person lives, while citizenship is a legal membership status.
Practice 3
Why should examples of citizen name a country or context?
Citizenship rules and the rights attached to citizenship vary by jurisdiction.
Practice complete
Nice work!
You completed 3 questions.
Pronunciation coach
⬡ Earn 5 Honey
Citizen
Voice settings
Sounds like
sit · uh · zun · strongest beat: sit
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordCitizen.
Partnoun.
MeaningCitizen means A citizen is a legal member of a country or state, or sometimes a person who lives in a city.
ExampleExample: The new citizen received a passport after the ceremony.
Word breakdown
3 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- sit · uh · zun
- Strongest beat
- sit
- Ending
- zun
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on sit.
Your turn
Say Citizen
Record a short attempt, then compare it with the Coach. Your recording stays on this device and is not uploaded.
Coach
My attempt
Ready when you are.
Nice work—you practiced citizen.
Synonyms
Words like Citizen
nationalOften close in legal contexts, but citizenship and nationality are not identical in every country or legal system.
city residentUse only for the city-or-town inhabitant sense, not as a substitute for national citizenship.
civilianUse when citizen means an ordinary person contrasted with a member of the armed forces or another state service.
Antonyms
Opposite words
noncitizenThe direct legal contrast for a person who does not hold the citizenship being discussed.
Synonym practice
Want to practice citizen synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "A good citizen helps keep the community clean," then compare close word choices. Practice citizen synonyms.
Word family
Citizen word family
Base word
citizen
noun
citizens
The plural form of citizen.
noun
citizenship
Legal membership in a country or the qualities and participation associated with being a citizen.
noun
citizenry
The citizens of a place considered as a group.
adjective
citizen-led
Organized or directed by citizens rather than officials or institutions.
Related words
Explore related words
Student support
Understand Citizen
Hint for students
For the main meaning, look for formal membership in a country or state, not simply presence or residence there.
Common mix-up
Resident is not a full synonym for citizen, and nationality and citizenship can differ by legal system. Do not state a right or duty without naming the relevant country or jurisdiction.
Try it in class or at home
Students sort statements into legal status, place of residence, city inhabitant, and civilian senses, then add the missing jurisdiction to one rights-and-responsibilities statement.
Teacher prompt
Compare citizen, resident, national, and civilian in short examples. Ask which words describe legal membership, where someone lives, or a nonmilitary role.
Learning activities
Practice Citizen and explore more word games
Cards labelled “Practice CITIZEN” keep this word in focus. Explore cards open games with other words.
Practice CITIZEN
Sentence Builder
Write your own sentence with this word and revise with checklist feedback.
Write a sentence with CITIZEN
Explore · Spelling
Spell Hive
Hear the word, type the spelling, and use spoken clues when needed.
Practice spelling
Explore · Definitions
Define the Word Hive
Choose the meaning that fits and get instant feedback.
Practice definitions
Explore · Matching
Vocabulary Match
Pair words with meanings and review misses with dictionary links.
Match meanings
Explore · Context
Context Clue Challenge
Use sentence clues to choose the word that fits the meaning.
Use context clues
Practice CITIZEN
Synonym Search
Compare meanings in a question that includes CITIZEN.
Practice CITIZEN
Explore · Scramble
Scrambled Bees
Rebuild words from mixed-up letters for spelling practice.
Rebuild words