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
Senate Democrats have been strongly against the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship and a photo ID to vote.
—
Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
All immigrants, regardless of their citizenship status, have the right to attend a public K-12 school in the United States.
—William McCorkle, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of thousands of babies born on American soil every year, with no citizenship, no legal identity, no real protections.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026
Whatever the merits of requiring voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration and a photo ID at the time of voting, that has nothing to do with issues involving the funding of Department of Homeland Security.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for citizenship
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Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
All immigrants, regardless of their citizenship status, have the right to attend a public K-12 school in the United States.
—William McCorkle, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of thousands of babies born on American soil every year, with no citizenship, no legal identity, no real protections.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026
Whatever the merits of requiring voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration and a photo ID at the time of voting, that has nothing to do with issues involving the funding of Department of Homeland Security.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 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 24 Mar. 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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