citizenship

[ sit-uh-zuhn-ship, -suhn- ]

noun

1. the state of being vested with the rights, privileges, and duties of a citizen.
2. the character of an individual viewed as a member of society; behavior in terms of the duties, obligations, and functions of a citizen:

   an award for good citizenship.

citizenship

/ ˈsɪtɪzənˌʃɪp /

noun

1. the condition or status of a citizen, with its rights and duties
2. a person's conduct as a citizen

   an award for good citizenship

Word History and Origins

Origin of citizenship¹

First recorded in 1605–15; citizen + -ship

Example Sentences

As well as financial help, over the past two years, Turkey has also granted citizenship to dozens of Hamas members, according to one person briefed on the issue, allowing them to travel without visas to more than 100 countries.

From Ozy

Turkey insists that it never grants citizenship to people with proven links to terrorism or violence.

From Ozy

This week on Deep Tech, she joins our editor-in-chief, Gideon Lichfield, to discuss why backlash from a controversial citizenship bill prompted the government to cut online communications.

From MIT Technology Review

The protest was against a controversial citizenship bill that the government planned to introduce.

From MIT Technology Review

The second reason is that more of the immigrants who are eligible for citizenship are getting naturalized.

From Quartz

In particular, it applies to immigrants who lost their U.S. citizenship after their involvement in World War II was discovered.

From The Daily Beast

And yet our country has redefined citizenship in some extraordinary ways since its inception.

From The Daily Beast

He promises the undocumented a chance to ‘get right with the law’ but says there will be ‘no free pass’ to citizenship either.

From The Daily Beast

It does not grant citizenship or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive.

From The Daily Beast

Canada and the United States are the only industrialized countries that retain birthright citizenship.

From The Daily Beast

When her marital relation ends she may elect to retain her marital or her original citizenship.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1855 Congress passed an act conferring citizenship on alien women who should marry American citizens.

From Project Gutenberg

At any time, on certain conditions, a member of a tribal ward can apply for full citizenship in a municipality.

From Project Gutenberg

How long is it since Jews were granted full rights of citizenship in Christian England?

From Project Gutenberg

What claims then have colored men, based upon the principles set forth, as fundamentally entitled to citizenship?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• autonomy
• democracy
• emancipation
• exemption
• immunity
• liberation
• privilege
• release
• relief
• self-determination
• self-government
• sovereignty