citizenship
noun
cit·i·zen·ship
ˈsi-tə-zən-ˌship 
also -sən-
1
: the status of being a citizen
He was granted U.S. citizenship.
2
a
: membership in a community (such as a college)
b
: the quality of an individual's response to membership in a community
The students are learning the value of good citizenship.
Examples of citizenship in a Sentence
She applied for Polish citizenship.
He was granted U.S. citizenship.
The students are learning the value of good citizenship.
Recent Examples on the Web
Laughlin, with Poder, said the influx has meant people with citizenship or other less-vulnerable statuses can show up in ways members of the undocumented community don't feel safe doing.
—
Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 10 Feb. 2026
In Israel’s case, that typically includes mostly American Jews — and occasionally those married to American Jews — who are eligible for Israeli citizenship under the country’s Law of Return.
—Jacob Gurvis, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Political theorists like James Tulley distinguish between civil views of citizenship, focused on what government does, and civic views of citizenship, including deliberation and public work that citizens do together.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Well, the Fourth Amendment protects all people, regardless of citizenship or national origin, from unreasonable search and seizure, so some of those collateral arrests are warrantless, but that's the politics of, of this funding bill.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for citizenship
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Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 10 Feb. 2026
In Israel’s case, that typically includes mostly American Jews — and occasionally those married to American Jews — who are eligible for Israeli citizenship under the country’s Law of Return.
—Jacob Gurvis, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Political theorists like James Tulley distinguish between civil views of citizenship, focused on what government does, and civic views of citizenship, including deliberation and public work that citizens do together.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Well, the Fourth Amendment protects all people, regardless of citizenship or national origin, from unreasonable search and seizure, so some of those collateral arrests are warrantless, but that's the politics of, of this funding bill.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for citizenship
Cite this Entry
“Citizenship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citizenship. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
citizenship
noun
cit·i·zen·ship
ˈsit-ə-zən-ship
1
: possession of the rights and privileges of a citizen
2
: the quality of a person's response to membership in a community
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