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

Hsu moved to Taiwan after getting married and has Taiwanese citizenship. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Starting in the nineteen-eighties, forms of identification as proof of citizenship became more rigidly required. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Trump’s new citizenship order attempts to operate in those narrower areas. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 9 Aug. 2026

The Italian supreme court’s abolition of 2024 restrictions on citizenship by descent means American families who’d been torn apart by the new legislation can now be reunited. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see citizen

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing citizenship

• birthright citizenship
• dual citizenship

Rhymes for citizenship

• apostleship
• apprenticeship
• assistantship
• championship
• chancellorship
• companionship
• copartnership
• dictatorship
• directorship
• discipleship
• editorship
• generalship

Kids 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

Legal Definition

citizenship

noun

cit·​i·​zen·​ship

1

: the status of being a citizen

2

: the quality of an individual's behavior as a citizen

3

: domicile

—used especially in federal diversity cases see also diversity jurisdiction at jurisdiction