membership

noun

mem·​ber·​ship ˈmem-bər-ˌship 

plural memberships

1

: the state or status of being a member

2

: the body of members

an organization with a large membership

3

mathematics : the relation between an element of a set (see set entry 2 sense 21) or class and the set or class itself compare inclusion sense 3a

Examples of membership in a Sentence

What is the cost of a one-year membership?

Membership in the club doubled last year.

clubs that are hoping to increase their membership

The club has a large membership.

clubs that are hoping to increase their memberships

Recent Examples on the Web

Eligible card members also receive complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, providing access to airport lounges worldwide. — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Owning a franchise buys entry into what one top sports dealmaker calls a premium club filled with elite deals, and the tax code makes membership even more attractive. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 17 July 2026

Its revenue was still up 13% on a year-over-year basis, largely due to the streaming platform’s membership and advertising growth as well as its subscription price hikes. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 17 July 2026

That information includes the types of services covered by the renewal, the frequency and cost of renewing the service, and clear instructions on how to cancel the subscription or membership. — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for membership

• authorship
• battleship
• censorship
• chairmanship
• chieftainship
• comradeship
• consulship
• craftsmanship
• dealership
• draftsmanship
• fellowship
• fingertip

Kids Definition

membership

noun

mem·​ber·​ship ˈmem-bər-ˌship 

1

: the state or status of being a member

2

: all the members of an organization