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
In Oregon, Read said, the state has people prove their citizenship before sending them a ballot that is individually tracked with a barcode.
—
Josh Meyer, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
All this as the president pushes Congress to pass the Save America Act, legislation that would require Americans to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote, and a photo ID to cast a ballot in federal elections.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
It’s well established in federal law that tribal citizenship is a political classification, not a racial one.
—Nora Mabie, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Equal citizenship is the foundation of democracy, and the framers sought to prevent politicans from eroding that foundation.
—David Cole, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for citizenship
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Josh Meyer, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
All this as the president pushes Congress to pass the Save America Act, legislation that would require Americans to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote, and a photo ID to cast a ballot in federal elections.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
It’s well established in federal law that tribal citizenship is a political classification, not a racial one.
—Nora Mabie, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Equal citizenship is the foundation of democracy, and the framers sought to prevent politicans from eroding that foundation.
—David Cole, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 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 7 Apr. 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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