English Reference
Noun

citizenship

n. C / U
C1 Advanced Oxford US /ˈsɪtɪzənˌʃɪp/ UK /sˈɪtɪzənʃˌɪp/ cit·i·zen·ship UK spelling citizenships

n.the legal right to belong to a country and have all the protections that come with it. It also describes how well you behave as a member of your community.

n.the legal status of being a member of a particular country, entailing specific rights and duties. It also refers to the quality of an individual's conduct as a member of a community.


SIMPLE

She applied for dual citizenship last year.

CONTEXTUAL

After living in the country for ten years, he finally passed the test to gain full citizenship.

COMPLEX

The debate over global citizenship suggests that our moral obligations should extend beyond national borders to encompass the entire human community.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general status or quality of behavior; countable when referring to the specific legal status held in different countries.

The Mostar-born, 49-year-old Jakirovic has Bosnian and Croatian citizenship and says his life was shaped by the 1990s Balkan war that broke out when he was 14.

The Guardian· 16 Aug 2026

They also employed demeaning racial stereotypes designed to humiliate African Americans while undermining their claims to freedom, dignity and citizenship.

The Conversation· 11 Aug 2026

From citizen + -ship.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated