citizenship

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noun cit·i·zen·ship \ˈsi-tə-zən-ˌship\

Definition of citizenship

1 : the status of being a citizen He was granted U.S. citizenship.
2a : 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.

See citizenship defined for English-language learners

See citizenship defined for kids

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 of citizenship from the Web

Each nation is permitted to have one player with dual citizenship on its U20 and senior national team rosters.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville basketball | Why is Cards transfer Steven Enoch playing for ... Armenia?," 15 July 2017
A direct line connects Trump’s assault on Barack Obama’s citizenship to his speech in Poland.

— peter beinart, The Atlantic, "The Racial and Religious Paranoia of Trump's Warsaw Speech," 6 July 2017
ICE became involved after local authorities couldn't verify Canchola's citizenship status.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "Illegal immigrant pleads guilty to federal gun charge in death of young Huntsville girl," 6 July 2017
Both Haimor and Roustom travel on U.S. passports, but U.S. citizenship alone has not freed them from encountering difficulties during international air travel.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "For some Muslim classical artists, music can speak louder than politics," 5 July 2017
In Naperville District 203, a series of September sessions focusing on digital citizenship and balancing life in the age of technology, led by speaker Devorah Heitner of Raising Digital Natives, are planned.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Plans under way for new year of Chromebook technology in schools," 30 June 2017
During the past few months, the Obamas have appeared to be making the most out of their return to private citizenship.

— Glamour, "Of Course Malia Obama Wore the Best Summer Dress on Vacation," 28 June 2017
Howell can relate to name-calling and second-class citizenship.

— mark curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "Sole mates: Syrian refugee bonds with survivor of Jim Crow South in shoe repair shop," 26 June 2017
Small communities settled along the Ohio River and tested the liberties of citizenship that were forged from the new constitution of the United States.

— nancy stearns theiss, The Courier-Journal, "Recounting the first murder trial in Oldham County," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'citizenship.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of citizenship

see citizen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1611

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

CITIZENSHIP Defined for English Language Learners

citizenship

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noun

Definition of citizenship for English Language Learners

: the fact or status of being a citizen of a particular place
: the qualities that a person is expected to have as a responsible member of a community

CITIZENSHIP Defined for Kids

citizenship

play

noun cit·i·zen·ship \ˈsi-tə-zən-ˌship\

Definition of citizenship for Students

1 : the state of being a citizen He was granted citizenship in the United States.
2 : the behavior expected of a person as a member of a community good citizenship

Law Dictionary

citizenship

noun cit·i·zen·ship

Legal Definition of citizenship

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