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

Last year, the median time spent as a lawful permanent resident prior to citizenship was seven years, according to the government. —David Ingram, NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024

Paul Whelan, 54; has citizenship with the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland; former U.S. Marine arrested in Moscow in December 2018 on charges of spying. —George Petras, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2024

Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which became law in 1986, all patients regardless of citizenship or immigration status are already entitled to treatment in hospital emergency rooms. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2024

Kellogg noted that Saudi Arabia in the 1990s stripped al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden of his citizenship and had taken more actions against him than any other country prior to the Sept. 11 attacks. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Aug. 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