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

Note that not all residence by investment programs offer a path to citizenship. —Harrison Pierce, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024

Proof of citizenship isn't required to register to vote with a federal form. —Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024

Election officials found that roughly 98,000 people had been wrongly marked in their system as having provided proof of citizenship — a requirement to vote in Arizona (every other state requires a pledge of citizenship under penalty of perjury). —Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024

While Americans remain opposed to the construction of a border wall or the revocation of birthright citizenship, many now back a mass deportation plan aimed at removing over 11 million undocumented immigrants from the United States. —Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see citizen

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing citizenship

• dual citizenship

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