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

FAIR’s affiliate legal organization worked to draft a bill in Arizona that gave law enforcement the right to stop people for proof of citizenship.

From Salon

He has pledged an executive order but birthright citizenship is explicitly guaranteed by the US Constitution, meaning it can only be altered under specific circumstances.

From BBC

Another day one promise was to end birthright citizenship - the 150-year-old principle that says anyone born on US soil is an American citizen.

From BBC

“You have to wonder what signal this sends when the Bahraini authorities are unjustly prosecuting their critics, when human rights defenders are languishing in Bahraini jails and when the Manama authorities refuse to reinstate the citizenship of people rendered stateless on politically motivated charges,” said Allan Hogarth, Amnesty International UK’s head of government and political relations.

From BBC

Trump, on the other hand, has vowed to deport every illegal immigrant, no matter the cost, while his immigration consigliere, Santa Monica native Stephen Miller, has previously explored banning birthright citizenship and deporting immigrants for their activism.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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