A compatriot is someone from the same country as you. When two Americans meet while traveling in Japan, they're compatriots. When a French scientist collaborates with another French scientist working in Canada, they're compatriots even though they live on different continents.

It carries a warmer feeling than just saying “fellow citizen” or “someone from my country.” When you call someone your compatriot, you're acknowledging a natural connection and shared identity.

You'll often hear this word during international competitions like the Olympics or the World Cup, when athletes cheer for their compatriots. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were compatriots fighting for American independence. During World War II, Winston Churchill rallied his compatriots across Britain to resist invasion.

The word suggests loyalty and kinship. Your compatriots are the people who sing the same national anthem, share your country's history, and understand references that outsiders might miss. While you can disagree strongly with a compatriot about politics or policies, you still share that fundamental bond of nationality.