A citizen is a person who legally belongs to a country and has specific rights and responsibilities within that country. This status can be acquired by birth, naturalization, or descent from parents who are citizens. Citizens have rights such as protection by the state, the right to vote, hold public office, and access social services, while also bearing duties like obeying laws, paying taxes, and defending the country if needed
. Citizenship is both a legal status and a form of membership in a political community, linking an individual to a state and granting a universal identity as a member of that nation. It often involves participation in civic life, such as voting and community involvement, and can vary in meaning and value depending on the country and its laws
. In simpler terms, a citizen is someone who belongs to a country or community and shares in its rights and responsibilities, contributing to its social and political life