citizenship

cit·i·zen·ship

noun \ˈsi-tə-zən-ˌship\

Definition of CITIZENSHIP

1

: the status of being a citizen

2

a : membership in a community (as a college)

b : the quality of an individual's response to membership in a community

Examples of CITIZENSHIP

1. She applied for Polish citizenship.
2. He was granted U.S. citizenship.
3. The students are learning the value of good citizenship.

First Known Use of CITIZENSHIP

1611

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with CITIZENSHIP

accountantship, acquaintanceship, apostleship, apprenticeship, artisanship, assistantship, attorneyship, championship, chancellorship, commandership, companionship, containership, cross-ownership, dictatorship, directorship, discipleship, editorship, factory ship, Freudian slip, good-fellowship, guardianship, headmastership, instructorship, landownership, laureateship, managership, median strip, musicianship, ombudsmanship, one-upmanship, outdoorsmanship, overlordship, partisanship, potato chip, professorship, protectorship, receivership, rejection slip, relationship, run a tight ship, shoot from the hip, stiff upper lip, survivorship, treasurership

citizenship

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Relationship between an individual and a state in which the individual owes allegiance to the state and in turn is entitled to its protection. In general, full political rights, including the right to vote and to hold public office, are predicated on citizenship. Citizenship entails obligations, usually including allegiance, payment of taxes, and military service. The concept arose in ancient Greece, where citizenship was granted only to property owners. The Romans initially used it as a privilege to be conferred upon or withheld from conquered peoples, but it was granted to all the empire's free inhabitants in AD 212. The concept disappeared in Europe during the feudal era but was revived in the Renaissance. Citizenship may normally be gained by birth within a certain territory, descent from a parent who is a citizen, marriage to a citizen, or naturalization. See also nationality.