a person from the same country as another person; a fellow citizen.
From Latin 'compatriota,' combining 'com-' (together) + 'patria' (homeland/fatherland). The word entered English in the 1600s.
The word literally means 'one who shares a fatherland,' but 'compatriot' carries emotional weight that 'citizen' doesn't. It implies shared destiny, pride, and connection—notice how sports teams rally around 'compatriots' more than 'citizens'?
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