Citizen vs. Denizen: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 29, 2023
Citizen refers to a legally recognized inhabitant of a country with rights and duties, while Denizen is a resident of a place, often without full rights or citizenship.
Key Differences
A Citizen is typically understood as an individual who is legally recognized by a state or nation, affording them specific rights and responsibilities. Conversely, a Denizen is generally a resident or inhabitant of a particular place, but this term doesn’t imply the legal status or rights granted to a citizen.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
The term Citizen carries a legal connotation, often associated with the right to vote, work, and live in a country. Denizen, in contrast, describes someone who lives in a certain place but may lack the legal status or privileges of a citizen.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Citizenship usually entails a formal relationship with a state, including obligations like paying taxes and obeying laws. Denizens, while residents of a place, may not have these obligations or may be exempt from certain civic duties and rights.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Citizens have a recognized status in the eyes of the government, often with a documented proof like a passport or ID. A Denizen is more about physical presence in a location, without necessarily having official documentation or recognition.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
In historical contexts, Citizen refers to a person with full membership in a city or state, while Denizen often referred to foreigners granted certain rights, yet not full citizenship, in a medieval city or state.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
ADVERTISEMENT
Citizen and Denizen Definitions
Citizen
A person entitled to protection by a government.
The embassy provides assistance to its citizens abroad.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Denizen
An inhabitant or occupant of a particular place.
He's a denizen of the bustling city streets.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Citizen
An inhabitant of a city or town with rights and duties.
As a citizen, he always votes in the local elections.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Denizen
A resident who is not a native.
Many artists were denizens of the Montmartre district in Paris.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Citizen
A participant in a democracy, often with the right to vote.
Every citizen has a voice in this democracy.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Denizen
An inhabitant; a resident
Denizens of Buenos Aires.
Turtles and other swamp denizens.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
An individual with specific responsibilities to their community.
Being a good citizen involves more than just obeying the law.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Denizen
One that frequents a particular place
A bar and its denizens.
Denizens of the deep sea.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
A person owing loyalty to and entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
Chiefly British A foreigner who is granted rights of residence and sometimes of citizenship.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
A resident of a city or town, especially one entitled to vote and enjoy other privileges there.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
An inhabitant of a place; one who dwells in.
The giant squid is one of many denizens of the deep.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
A native, inhabitant, or denizen of a particular place
Citizens of rural Utah.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
One who frequents a place.
The denizens of that pub are of the roughest sort.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
A resident of a city or town, especially one with legally-recognized rights or duties.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
A person with rights between those of naturalized citizen and resident alien (roughly permanent resident), obtained through letters patent.
Though born in Iceland, he became a denizen of Britain after leaving Oxford.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
A legally-recognized member of a state, with associated rights and obligations; a person considered in terms of this role.
I am a Roman citizen.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
(biology) An animal or plant from a particular range or habitat.
The bald eagle is a denizen of the northern part of the state.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
An inhabitant or occupant: a member of any place.
Diogenes reckoned himself a citizen of the world.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
(Christianity) A resident of the heavenly city or later of the kingdom of God: a Christian; a good Christian.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
To grant rights of citizenship to; to naturalize.
He was denizened to Ireland after fleeing his home country.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
A civilian, as opposed to a police officer, soldier, or member of some other specialized (usually state) group.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
(transitive) To provide with denizens; to populate with adopted or naturalized occupants.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
(obsolete) An ordinary person, as opposed to nobles and landed gentry on one side and peasants, craftsmen, and laborers on the other.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
A dweller; an inhabitant.
Denizens of their own free, independent state.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
A term of address among French citizens during the French Revolution or towards its supporters elsewhere; dated a term of address among socialists and communists.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
One who is admitted by favor to all or a part of the rights of citizenship, where he did not possess them by birth; an adopted or naturalized citizen.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
One admitted to residence in a foreign country.
Ye gods,Natives, or denizens, of blest abodes.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
One who enjoys the freedom and privileges of a city; a freeman of a city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or one not entitled to its franchises.
That large body of the working men who were not counted as citizens and had not so much as a vote to serve as an anodyne to their stomachs.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
To constitute (one) a denizen; to admit to residence, with certain rights and privileges.
As soon as denizened, they domineer.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
To provide with denizens; to populate with adopted or naturalized occupants.
There [islets] were at once denizened by various weeds.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
A person, native or naturalized, of either sex, who owes allegiance to a government, and is entitled to reciprocal protection from it.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
One who is domiciled in a country, and who is a citizen, though neither native nor naturalized, in such a sense that he takes his legal status from such country.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
A plant or animal naturalized in a region;
Denizens of field and forest
Denizens of the deep
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Citizen
Having the condition or qualities of a citizen, or of citizens; as, a citizen soldiery.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
A regular visitor to a place.
She is a familiar denizen of the local library.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Citizen
Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of a city; characteristic of citizens; effeminate; luxurious.
I am not well,But not so citizen a wanton asTo seem to die ere sick.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
A foreigner allowed certain rights in their resident country.
As a denizen, he could work but not vote.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Citizen
A native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Denizen
A person or animal that frequents a specific area.
The deer are denizens of these wooded areas.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Citizen
A legally recognized member of a country.
She became a citizen of Italy last year.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can a denizen be a citizen?
A denizen can become a citizen through legal processes like naturalization.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Do citizens have to pay taxes?
Yes, citizens are generally required to pay taxes in their country.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can a denizen vote?
A denizen typically cannot vote as they may lack full citizenship rights.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Do denizens have a right to government services?
Denizens may have limited access to government services.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Is a passport proof of citizenship?
Yes, a passport is commonly used as proof of citizenship.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can denizens own property?
This varies by country, but denizens often can own property.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Are citizens protected by their government abroad?
Yes, citizens usually receive governmental protection when abroad.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Are denizens subject to deportation?
Yes, denizens can be deported, unlike citizens.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
What defines a citizen?
A citizen is a legal member of a country, with rights and duties.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Are children of citizens automatically citizens?
In many countries, children born to citizens are automatically citizens.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can a citizen be denied entry to their country?
Citizens generally cannot be denied entry to their own country.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Do denizens have social security benefits?
Denizens typically have limited or no access to social security benefits.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Do citizens have a right to work?
Citizens usually have the right to work in their country.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can denizens hold public office?
Generally, denizens cannot hold public office.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Are denizens eligible for diplomatic protection?
Denizens are not usually eligible for diplomatic protection.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can a citizen lose their citizenship?
Yes, through processes like renunciation or criminal activity.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can denizens become naturalized?
Yes, denizens can become citizens through naturalization.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Are citizens required to serve in the military?
This depends on the country, but some require military service from citizens.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Is jury duty mandatory for citizens?
In many countries, jury duty is a responsibility of citizens.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Do denizens have freedom of movement?
Denizens' freedom of movement may be more restricted than that of citizens.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Share this page
Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
Hifza Nasir
