compatriot

noun

com·​pa·​tri·​ot kəm-ˈpā-trē-ət 

käm-,

-trē-ˌät,

 chiefly British  -ˈpa-

1

: a person born, residing, or holding citizenship in the same country as another

We watched our compatriots compete in the Olympics.

2

: companion, colleague

her compatriots in academia

theater compatriots

compatriotic

kəm-ˌpā-trē-ˈä-tik 

ˌkäm-

 chiefly British  -ˌpa-

adjective

Synonyms

• countryman
• landsman

Examples of compatriot in a Sentence

We watched our compatriots compete in the Olympics.

the famous actor and his theater compatriots

Recent Examples on the Web

Many Israelis dismiss the departure of their compatriots and point to the influx of people who’ve immigrated to the country since the Oct. 7 attacks; tens of thousands of immigrants—primarily from Russia—continue to move to Israel, contributing to a complex migration dynamic. —Samuel Burke, Fortune Europe, 27 Nov. 2024

Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel is unpopular among many citizens who see normalisation of relations as betraying the rights of their Palestinian compatriots. —Reuters, NBC News, 24 Nov. 2024

Somehow, Ordaz and a small band of compatriots endured the long, grueling ascent — their lungs slowly crushed by the altitude’s pressure, their backs weighed down by their steel helmets and breastplates — and lived to tell the tale. —Charles Curkin, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024

When the premiere was announced a month ago, some DPs took to social media to argue that the decision to show the film was a promotional move made in poor taste, given that its creation caused the death of one of their compatriots. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French compatriote, from Late Latin compatriota, from Latin com- + Late Latin patriota fellow countryman — more at patriot

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

compatriot

noun

com·​pa·​tri·​ot kəm-ˈpā-trē-ət 

käm-,

-trē-ˌät

: a person from one's own country : countryman