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

As a result, Pashinyan froze Armenia’s membership in the CSTO in February 2024. —Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

While the streaming service doesn’t offer a free trial directly, deal-savvy streamers can enjoy free Peacock access through partner subscriptions, including Instacart+ and Walmart+, which both include Peacock Premium in their membership. —Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2026

Global Rescue reported a 30% increase in security membership purchases so far this year compared with the same period in 2025 as travelers increasingly seek evacuation and crisis-response support before remote trips. —Barbara Booth, CNBC, 9 May 2026

Costco unveils new Caramel Churro Sundae The membership warehouse club known for its food court with low prices and hot dog deals launched a new dessert last month – the Caramel Churro Sundae. —Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 8 May 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