citizen legal definition

noun

1. A person who, due to place of birth, naturalization, or other reasons (for example, citizenship of parents) is a member of a political community or of a civil state, such as a country or state, and is entitled to all the civil rights and protections thereof and owes allegiance to its government. See also naturalization and resident.
2. For purpose of federal diversity of citizenship lawsuits, a corporation that is incorporated or has its principal place of business in a state, or an alien granted permanent residence in the United States and residing in a state, is a citizen of that state.