nouns - What is the difference between "citizen" and "denizen"


Citizen: 1. A legally recognized subject ornational of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized. 2. An inhabitant of a particular town or city.


Denizen: 1. An inhabitant or occupant of a particular place.


Same thing?



Answer



I would say the answer depends on how technical we're being.


A citizen of the United States is a legal resident who has been processed by the government as being a member of the United States.


A denizen of the United States is simply someone that lives there.


Technically speaking, one could never be, for example, a citizen of the Earth -- but we're all denizens of the Earth.


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