citizenry

noun

cit·​i·​zen·​ry ˈsi-tə-zən-rē How to pronounce citizenry (audio)
 also  -sən-
plural citizenries
: a whole body of citizens

Examples of citizenry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Yet there are inescapable signs that Mr. Biden — who is facing a tough re-election campaign, low approval ratings, and concern among voters about his age and health — has come to increasingly rely on people beyond Ms. Jean-Pierre to sell his message to a skeptical citizenry. Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 For such an erudite citizenry with advanced degrees – the late, celebrated novelist David Foster Wallace once called Claremont home –the town comes up short on book-selling. Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee, 25 Jan. 2024 There are 54 constituent countries that make up the continent and each one of them must operate with due diligence both toward the needs and aspirations of its own citizenry and a concomitant coherence in its foreign policy. Ivor Ichikowitz, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2024 The director cast screen legend Pam Grier as another member of Ludlow's increasingly concerned citizenry. Clark Collis, EW.com, 27 Sep. 2023 National border policing has two obvious purposes: 1. keeping undesired foreigners out and 2. stopping the native citizenry from leaving. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024 But this is disingenuous; the people who oppose misinformation research, whether pundits, politicians or crackpots, are not fighting for freedom but against a discerning and well-informed citizenry. Stephan Lewandowsky, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2024 And the first duty of government is the physical security of the citizenry. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 29 Jan. 2024 This approach can increase political participation, particularly among younger demographics, and foster a more engaged citizenry. Shirin Etessam, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'citizenry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of citizenry was in 1795

Dictionary Entries Near citizenry

Cite this Entry

“Citizenry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citizenry. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

citizenry

noun
cit·​i·​zen·​ry ˈsit-ə-zən-rē How to pronounce citizenry (audio)
plural citizenries
: the whole body of citizens
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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