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

Other than Tennessee residency and legal citizenship, there were no other qualification requirements. —Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025

The court is also poised to take up a number of cases related to transgender people’s rights, and the Justice Department has petitioned it to review Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship. —Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025

The aide left his plum post after The Mail on Sunday unveiled a letter in which Fawcett offered to help Saudi billionaire donor Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz secure British citizenship and a prestigious knighthood. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025

Passport applications would also require proof of parental citizenship or immigration status, according to recent guidance documents from the administration. —Arkansas Online, 5 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