citizen

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 • citizenly 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

>.