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

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, said last Sunday that was drafting legislation to end birthright citizenship. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

Then overnight, the rules had changed — and international students no longer had an easy track to citizenship. —Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

President-elect Trump’s pledge to enact mass deportations and end birthright citizenship, potentially affecting millions of U.S. citizens, is raising alarm bells among immigrant communities who fear an overzealous Trump administration could destroy countless families. —Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024

World Population Review lists 33 nations that grant citizenship to anyone born within their borders. —Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 10 Dec. 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