non-citizen

IPA/ˌnɒn ˈsɪtɪzn/
IPA/ˌnɑːn ˈsɪtɪzn/

non-citizen — noun

1. someone who does not have the legal status of belonging to a particular country

1.nounC1
Definition

someone who does not have the legal status of belonging to a particular country as one of its citizens

Example

The form asks whether each worker is a citizen or a non-citizen.

contrast: citizen or non-citizen on official forms

Linh needed a work permit because she was a non-citizen.

context: immigration and work status

Common collocations
  • non-citizen worker
  • non-citizen student
  • non-citizen resident
  • non-citizen of the country
Synonyms
  • foreign national

    an official term that stresses nationality from another country

  • foreigner

    broader everyday word; less precise and sometimes less neutral

  • immigrant

    someone who has moved to live in a country; some immigrants later become citizens

Antonyms
  • citizen

    a person who has legal membership and rights in a country

Grammar Patterns

be a non-citizen

a non-citizen of + country

citizen or non-citizen

Usage Note

Most often used in legal, immigration, and administrative contexts. It describes citizenship status only, so a non-citizen may be a long-term worker, student, or resident rather than a short-term visitor.

Common Mistakes

The visa is for non citizen workers.
The visa is for non-citizen workers.
This compound noun is normally written with a hyphen.
Every non-citizen is a tourist.
Many non-citizens live and work here for years.
The word only says a person lacks that country's citizenship; it does not mean they are visiting briefly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A non-citizen is defined only by legal status: the person does not hold citizenship in the country being discussed. A citizen is the direct opposite because that person has full legal membership in the country. Foreigner is a broader everyday word for someone from another country, but it does not clearly state citizenship and can sound less neutral. Immigrant focuses on moving to live in a new country; an immigrant may still be a non-citizen, but some immigrants later become citizens. In forms, rules, and policy language, non-citizen is the most exact choice when legal status matters.

non-citizen ↗citizen ↗foreigner ↗immigrant ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be a non-citizen
  • citizen or non-citizen
  • non-citizen of + country
  • non-citizen worker

Prepositions

Etymology

English

Formed in English by adding the negative prefix non- to citizen. The compound is mainly used in formal public, legal, and administrative language to mark a person who does not hold citizenship in the country being discussed.