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

In the coming weeks, terms of the deal will be subject to review and approval by SAG’s National Board, as well as the ratification of the SAG-AFTRA membership. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 June 2025

Last month, 97 percent of the union’s membership voted in favor of a strike if negotiations broke down. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 9 June 2025

Its core membership remains film commissions across the world. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 5 June 2025

The nonprofit surveyed its membership and followers to learn which state parks do certain things best, whether that be hiking, birdwatching, entertaining children and more. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 5 June 2025

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