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

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, sued the government department for failing to produce documents on Harry’s citizenship under the Freedom of Information Act. —Armani Syed, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024

There are Israeli Jews (including West Bank settlers), who enjoy exclusive first-class citizenship in the Israeli state, as most recently enshrined in Israel’s 2018 nation-state law. —Ziad Asali, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024

Additional text on its side references the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 — calling attention to the centennial of the law that finally granted U.S. citizenship to Native Americans. —Jillian Steinhauer, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024

But after the tense exchanges, the judge decided on a new hearing to consider restitution in the future and ordered prosecutors to include the possibility of stripping him of his citizenship in his plea agreement. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024

To join the registry, Indians must prove their citizenship by providing certain documents. —Hartosh Singh Bal, Foreign Affairs, 12 Apr. 2024

The catalogue of more than 300 questions from which citizenship test questions can be selected is to be amended shortly, the interior ministry said in a statement, pending final approval. —Kate Brady, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024

The best way to get EU citizenship through Greece, assuming you’re not born or marrying into Greek citizenship, is by putting in the time as a legal resident. —Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Currently, department officials are trying to confirm the victims’ citizenships. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see citizen

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing citizenship

• dual citizenship

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