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Synonyms

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.


membership British  
/ ˈmɛmbəˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. the members of an organization collectively

  2. the state of being a member

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing membership

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“For you” might equate to learning a new skill or getting a gym membership, and “for good” is as expansive as your generosity allows.

From MarketWatch Aug. 11, 2026

He called for ap Gwynfor to "publish the membership and terms of reference of his expert panel", set clear monthly performance targets and outline the actions to be taken if those targets are not met.

From BBC Aug. 10, 2026

You don’t need a gym membership or a heavy barbell, either.

From Science Daily Aug. 10, 2026

No subscription: I tested the Cirqa without Garmin’s optional $7-a-month Connect+ membership for coaching and other features—and didn’t miss them.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 9, 2026

In the fifties and sixties the John Birch Society had had a significant membership in Odessa.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

It doesn’t include guest passes or access to partners like the airline’s other memberships.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 7, 2026

Many discounts involve pairing up - 2-for-1 cinema tickets, Two-Together railcards, couples gym memberships - plus solo travellers often pay a single person supplement.

From BBC Aug. 4, 2026

Customs and Border Protection said “Global Entry or other CBP Trusted Traveler Program memberships are not revoked because someone exercises their First Amendment rights.”

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 24, 2026

They cancelled gym memberships and Sky TV and went through their finances to make sure they could cover their mortgage and bills on a lower income.

From BBC Jul. 23, 2026

As I sat there one of them was inflating my faked memberships into meanings of national significance.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

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