compatriots

IPA/kəmˈpæt.ri.ət/
KK[kəmpˈetriəts]IPA/kəmˈpeɪ.tri.ət/

compatriots — noun

  • compatriotssingular
  • compatriotsesplural

1. a person who shares your country of birth or citizenship — the term is especiall

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who shares your country of birth or citizenship — the term is especially common when describing encounters abroad or in international contexts.

Example

Minh was happy to meet a compatriot from Vietnam at the student dormitory in Berlin.

compatriot + from [country] showing origin

The Taiwanese restaurant in London is a popular meeting place for compatriots in the city.

Common collocations
  • fellow compatriot
  • compatriot of + pronoun
  • meet a compatriot
  • fellow compatriots living abroad
Synonyms
  • countryman

    less formal than 'compatriot'; commonly used in British English ('fellow countryman')

  • fellow citizen

    emphasises shared citizenship; used in political or legal contexts

  • national

    more technical; often appears in official documents or news reports ('French nationals abroad')

Antonyms
  • foreigner

    a person from a different country

  • alien

    formal or legal term for a non-citizen resident

Grammar Patterns

compatriot of + noun phrase

fellow + compatriot(s)

Usage Note

In casual conversation, speakers often use 'someone from my country' or a nationality word ('a fellow Italian') instead of 'compatriot', which sounds formal or journalistic.

Common Mistakes

I met a compatriot from Japan at the party.
I met someone from Japan at the party.
Use 'compatriot' only when the person shares YOUR country, not just any country.
She is my compatriot because we both love Korea.
She is my compatriot because we were both born in Korea.
'Compatriot' requires shared nationality or country of origin, not shared interest.

2. someone who shares your profession, beliefs, or goals — like a colleague or comr

2.nounC1
Definition

someone who shares your profession, beliefs, or goals — like a colleague or comrade — even if they come from a different country.

Example

The two Nobel laureates considered each other intellectual compatriots in the field of quantum mechanics.

compatriots in + field/domain

The activists were compatriots in the fight for human rights and supported one another's campaigns.

compatriot in + cause/fight

Common collocations
  • political compatriots
  • compatriots in + cause/struggle/fight
  • intellectual compatriots
  • artistic compatriots
Synonyms
  • colleague

    neutral term for a work associate; less emotionally charged than 'compatriot'

  • comrade

    stronger sense of shared struggle; often used in political or military contexts

  • ally

    someone who supports the same cause; focuses on cooperation rather than shared background

Antonyms
  • opponent

    someone who opposes your goals or beliefs

  • adversary

    formal term for a person or group in conflict with you

Grammar Patterns

compatriot in + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense of 'compatriot' is metaphorical — it compares people who share a strong common purpose to citizens of the same nation. It is most common in formal or literary writing.

Common Mistakes

My compatriot at work helped me with the report.
My colleague at work helped me with the report.
For a simple coworker, 'colleague' is more natural; 'compatriot' suggests a deeper shared mission.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Compatriot', 'countryman', 'fellow citizen', and 'national' all refer to people who share a country of origin, but they differ in formality and usage. 'Compatriot' (B2) is the most common for describing someone you encounter abroad — it carries a natural warmth without being overly sentimental. 'Countryman' is slightly less formal and more common in British English, especially in the phrase 'fellow countryman'. 'Fellow citizen' emphasises legal citizenship rather than birthplace and appears in political speeches or civic contexts. 'National' is the most formal and technical — you will find it in official documents ('Chinese nationals living overseas') and news reports. In everyday speech, however, most people simply say 'someone from my country' or use the nationality adjective ('a fellow Mexican'). If you want a neutral, broadly understood term for writing or formal speech, 'compatriot' is your best choice.

countrymanfellow citizennational ↗compatriot

Common collocations

Nouns

  • fellow compatriot
  • group of compatriots
  • network of compatriots

Phrases

  • fellow compatriots
  • compatriots living abroad
  • a compatriot of mine

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'compatriot' entered English in the early 1600s from French 'compatriote', which came from Late Latin 'compatriota'. The prefix 'com-' means 'together with', and 'patriota' means 'fellow countryman' — itself from Latin 'patria' (fatherland). The word is a close relative of 'patriot' and 'patriotic', but while those words focus on love for one's country, 'compatriot' simply describes the relationship of sharing a country with someone else.

First known use

1611

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1