A person who legally belongs to a country and has rights and responsibilities there. Citizens can usually vote, work, and live in that country.
From Anglo-French "citezein," from Old French "citeain" meaning "town-dweller," from Latin "civitas" meaning "city" or "state." The idea grew from just living in a town to belonging fully to a nation.
Originally, being a "citizen" was about the city, not the whole country—politics started small and local. The word carries the idea that belonging isn’t just geography; it’s being part of the group that makes the rules.
Historically, legal definitions of “citizen” often excluded women or limited their rights compared to men, and in many places citizenship was mediated through a husband or father. Political language about “citizens” frequently centered male participation and perspectives.
Use “citizen” in its legal sense without assuming a default gender, and consider “residents” or “people” when legal citizenship isn’t the key point.
["resident","member of the public","person","inhabitant"]
When discussing citizenship movements, include the activism of women and marginalized genders who fought for equal civic status and voting rights.
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