readership

American  

[ree-der-ship] / ˈri dərˌʃɪp /

noun

1. the people who read or are thought to read a particular book, newspaper, magazine, etc..

   The periodical has a dwindling readership.

2. the duty, status, or profession of a reader.

3. (especially in British universities) the position of instructor or lecturer.

4. the state or quality of being a reader.

   appealing to a higher level of readership.

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readership British  

/ ˈriːdəʃɪp /

noun

1. all the readers collectively of a particular publication or author

   a readership of five million

   Dickens's readership

2. the office, position, or rank of university reader

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Etymology

Origin of readership

First recorded in 1710–20; reader + -ship

Example Sentences

By highlighting his cinephilia, this wonderful book brings Kurosawa closer to the film buffs who will undoubtedly make up its grateful readership.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

His work drew a large female readership, typically uncommon for comic-book writers.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

And the broader readership of the New York Times is not even in agreement with Ezra Klein on this one.

From Slate • Sep. 16, 2025

Gaiman, one of our most successful living authors, has long taken pride in catering to his female readership.

From Salon • Jul. 3, 2025

As children of their own societies, these early historians naturally emphasized the culture they knew best, the culture their readership most wanted to hear about.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann