citizen

Etymology

From Middle English citeseyn, citezein, borrowed from Anglo-Norman citesain (“burgher; city-dweller”), citezein etc., probably a variant of cithein under influence of deinzein (“denizen”), from Anglo-Norman and Old French citeain etc. and citaien, citeien etc. ("burgher"; modern French citoyen), from cité ("settlement; cathedral city, city"; modern French cité) + -ain or -ien (“-an, -ian”). See city and hewe.

noun

1. A resident of a city or town, especially one with legally-recognized rights or duties.
2. A legally-recognized member of a state, with associated rights and obligations; a person considered in terms of this role.
   Assistant: You'll meet with the managing director and Dr Sinita Brahmachari, the engineer who designed the chair. Peter Mackenzie: Indian, is he? Assistant: She is a British citizen, Minister. Born in Coventry. 1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 4
   Libertarian paternalism is the view that, because the way options are presented to citizens affects what they choose, society should present options in a way that “nudges” our intuitive selves to make choices that are more consistent with what our more deliberative selves would have chosen if they were in control. 2012-01, Steven Sloman, “The Battle Between Intuition and Deliberation”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 2012-01-08, page 74
   I am a Roman citizen.
3. An inhabitant or occupant: a member of any place.
   Diogenes reckoned himself a citizen of the world.
   A jellyfish... carries poison cells that can sting other citizens of the sea. 1979 October, Boys' Life, page 33
4. (Christianity) A resident of the heavenly city or (later) of the kingdom of God: a Christian; a good Christian.
5. A civilian, as opposed to a police officer, soldier, or member of some other specialized (usually state) group.
6. (obsolete) An ordinary person, as opposed to nobles and landed gentry on one side and peasants, craftsmen, and laborers on the other.
   [W]ould Mr. Delvile, who hardly ever spoke but to the high-born, without seeming to think his dignity somewhat injured, deign to receive for a daughter in law the child of a citizen and tradesman? 1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, III.v.6
7. (now historical, usually capitalized) A term of address among French citizens during the French Revolution or towards its supporters elsewhere; (later, dated) a term of address among socialists and communists.
8. (computing) An object.