Word
membership
Phoneticsmem·ber·ship, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɛmbɝˌʃɪp/
UK/mˈɛmbəʃˌɪp/
Definitions
01status of belonging
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of being a member of a group, club, or organization.
n. the status or condition of being a member of a collective entity. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
“You need to pay a small fee to renew your gym membership every year.”
“The committee decided to grant her honorary membership in recognition of her lifelong dedication to the local historical society.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' or 'in'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02the group of members
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. all the people who belong to a particular group or organization.
n. the collective body of members belonging to an organization. Usually treated as a singular collective noun.
“The club's membership has grown quickly over the last few months.”
“The union's membership voted overwhelmingly to reject the latest contract offer from the management team.”
Usage
Can be followed by a singular or plural verb in British English.
Synonyms
03set theory
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Mathematics Technical
n. the fact that an object or number belongs to a specific set.
n. the relation between an element and the set that contains it.
“In this math problem, we need to check the membership of each number in the set.”
“The proof relies on the membership of the variable within the defined set of real numbers.”
Usage
Often represented by the symbol ∈.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “membership” in context.
Noun
01. class membership
“Sociologists often study how class membership affects a person's access to higher education.”
noun + noun
02. group membership
“Group membership can provide individuals with a strong sense of identity and belonging.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“On Europe, Erdogan said the European Union did not appear willing to admit Turkiye, adding that membership was no longer a priority for Ankara and that Europe would be “the loser” as a result.” “You need to apply for a card then go into a shop with a valid student ID to activate your membership and qualify for the discounts.” Etymology
From member + -ship.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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