compatriot

noun

com·​pa·​tri·​ot kəm-ˈpā-trē-ət How to pronounce compatriot (audio)
käm-, 
-trē-ˌät
chiefly British -ˈpa-
Synonyms of compatriotnext
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

Synonyms of compatriot

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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.
Chwalinska beat six-time major winner and Polish compatriot Iga Swiatek in the semifinals and, along with 1,000 ranking points, earns $665,000 in prize money. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 The weary have compatriots at Clicks, a company chockablock with BlackBerry alumni devoted to bringing back tactile mobile keyboards. — Martin Cizmar, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Less scrolling on the toilet in fear, more giggling with compatriots in joy. — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026 Unlike his compatriot Horn, who went down in that same Cleveland game, Jackson has never been seriously hurt before. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026 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

Rhymes for compatriot

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Browse Nearby Words

compatric
compatriot
compatriotic
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Cite this Entry

“Compatriot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compatriot. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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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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