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

Robeson’s persistence against state harassment illustrated how resistance to civil liberties violations can protect and preserve basic citizenship rights, including the right to travel. —Time, 20 Oct. 2025

Kaul argues the decision violates state law, as Wisconsin does not require proof of citizenship to register to vote, only an attestation. —Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 20 Oct. 2025

There were roughly 60,000 people in immigration detention nationwide in both August and September – more than at any time since the United States government interned some 120,000 people, the majority of Japanese citizenship or ancestry, during World War II. —Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025

While citizenship by donation may move faster than traditional residency routes, approval is far from automatic. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see citizen

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing 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