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

Plus, with the brand's DashPass membership, shoppers can save even more on their DoorDash orders with exclusive perks like a $0 delivery fee, lower service fees and fast, same-day delivery on a variety of health and wellness essentials. — Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Future membership in the bloc is almost universally popular in Albania, with 91% of the public supporting it according to an EU survey. — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026

According to Playlist, parent company of the gym and spa membership app ClassPass, the number of venues on ClassPass with electrical muscle stimulation workouts rose more than 16% from 2023 to 2025. — Diana Anos, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

The scope of persecution eligible for asylum is generally limited to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 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