netizen

noun

net·​i·​zen ˈne-tə-zən How to pronounce netizen (audio)
 also  -sən
: an active participant in the online community of the Internet

Examples of netizen in a Sentence

the dismaying rudeness that so many netizens exhibit while online
Recent Examples on the Web In the first week of March, Zhejiang Daily, the official paper of the Communist Party in the eastern province of Zhejiang, published an opinion piece and an editorial on WeChat, urging netizens to stop attacking private enterprises and entrepreneurs. Laura He, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 In its early days, the new law’s effects will be more about the power struggles behind the curtain of the world’s biggest companies; not about making netizens’ lives easier. Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024 Why do netizens think Stanley cups are made with lead? The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 Some netizens describe the coffee tasted a bit… pic.twitter.com/XIsNF0uhst — ShanghaiEye🚀official (@ShanghaiEye) February 20, 2024 Starbucks has just under 800 locations in China and is continuing its expansion in that country. Chris Morris, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2024 Any avid netizen might tell you that Ice Spice's power seems to lie partly in always being in on the joke. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024 The rap went viral, receiving both criticism and praise from netizens. Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2024 As Thanksgiving approaches, netizens are taking to Instagram to show off their festive fall fits. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2023 When the Grévin unveiled its latest wax star last week, netizens quickly began roasting the figure, which seemingly lacked Johnson’s skin tone. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'netizen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

blend of net and citizen

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of netizen was in 1984

Dictionary Entries Near netizen

Cite this Entry

“Netizen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/netizen. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

netizen

noun
net·​i·​zen ˈnet-ə-zən How to pronounce netizen (audio)
: a user of the Internet
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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