compatriot

noun

com·​pa·​tri·​ot kəm-ˈpā-trē-ət How to pronounce compatriot (audio)
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 How to pronounce compatriot (audio)
ˌkäm-
 chiefly British  -ˌpa-
adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
India have taken a stranglehold of the ICC after the recent appointment of Sanjog Gupta as chief executive, hot on the heels of Indian compatriot Jay Shah’s ascension as chair. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Nani was an exciting, skillful winger, and in the early part of his career in England, a one-time housemate of storied compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo. Patrick Snell, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025 The new queen was crowned by Miss Universe Nicaragua 2024, Geyssell García, after competing with 12 compatriots who represented the departments and autonomous regions of the country. Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 During a familiarly frenetic summer of incomings and outgoings (hat tip Strasbourg) at Chelsea, new recruit Joao Pedro has made a dream start to life in West London, already dovetailing well with compatriot and teenage star Estevao. Jack Bantock, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for compatriot

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of compatriot was in 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compatriot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compatriot. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

compatriot

noun
com·​pa·​tri·​ot kəm-ˈpā-trē-ət How to pronounce compatriot (audio)
käm-,
-trē-ˌät
: a person from one's own country : countryman

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