membership

American  

[mem-ber-ship] / ˈmɛm bərˌʃɪp /

noun

memberships plural

1. the state of being a member, as of a society or club.

2. the status of a member.

3. the total number of members belonging to an organization, society, etc.

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membership British  

/ ˈmɛmbəˌʃɪp /

noun

1. the members of an organization collectively

2. the state of being a member

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• memberships
  plural

Etymology

Origin of membership

First recorded in 1640–50; member + -ship

Explanation

Use the noun membership to describe the people who together make up a group or organization. Your secret childhood club may have had a membership consisting only of you, your brother, and your best friend. Any official group has a membership, the people who belong to it. Your high school French club has a membership, and so does the United States Congress. You can also use the word to mean "the fact of being a member," like when you brag about your membership in Mensa, the organization for people with extremely high intelligence. The root of membership is the Latin word for body part or limb, membrum.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

membership memberships

The Balkan nation has even pinned part of its bid to join the European Union on reviving the site -- with environmental benchmarks required for membership closely tied to the salina's health.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

And on my college budget I couldn’t afford regular takeout orders, even with a premium DoorDash membership that removed delivery fees.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

Last year, the Franklin Hills Residents Assn., whose block parties have featured Palermo pizzas for years, gave Fanara an honorary lifetime membership.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

While the UAW’s active membership today is less than a third of its 1970s peak, it still wields influence across the car industry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

There is some likelihood that Lawrence had heard about it too, in which case he would have known that Frank Oppenheimer s repeated denials of party membership were false.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

To outsiders, Nantucket can seem like a faraway, rich-person’s playground, full of yacht-packed marinas, six-figure golf-club memberships and $300 seafood towers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026

Many Advantage plans bundle Part A hospital coverage, Part B outpatient coverage, and Part D drug coverage—plus extras like gym memberships and dental care—for no additional premium.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

You might be wondering: How many Erewhon memberships has she personally sold?

From Los Angeles Times ● May 25, 2026

Doctors often recommend regular physical activity to help manage it, but many people struggle to maintain long-term exercise habits, especially when workouts require gym memberships, special equipment, dedicated spaces, or ongoing coaching.

From Science Daily ● May 10, 2026

While some of these groups boasted large memberships, the suffragists questioned the numbers reported by the antis.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Related Words

• enrollment
• participation