citizenshipn.
/ˈsɪtᵻz(ə)nʃɪp/, U.S. /ˈsɪdᵻzənˌʃɪp/, /ˈsɪdᵻsənˌʃɪp/ 1. The position or status of being a citizen (esp. in sense 2a).As a legal status synonymous with nationality, citizenship typically confers the rights to live and work in a particular nation state and to participate in its politics while being subject to taxation. [The meaning in quot. 1611 is not entirely clear; French †citoyennerie is apparently not otherwise recorded.]
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal right > right of specific class, person, or place > [noun] > status or rights of being a citizen
burgessy1340
civilityc1384
franchisea1400
burgess-shipa1450
free burghership?1555
citizenship1611
cit1679
burghership1725
citizenhood1851
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > inhabitant according to environment > town- or city-dweller > [noun] > status of
portery1565
citizenship1611
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > [noun] > opposed to foreigner or visitor > status of
civilityc1384
denizenship1603
citizenship1831
citizenhood1851
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Citoyennerie, a Citizenship, the freedome of a Citie.
1668 J. Howe Blessednesse of Righteous xvi. 263 Our trade and business, our daily negotiations (as well as the priviledges of our Citizen-ship) lie there.
1769 F. Brooke Hist. Emily Montague I. xi. 69 We are the savages, who so impolitely deprive you of the common rights of citizenship.
1783 T. Paine Thoughts on Peace 15 Our citizenship in the United States is our national character.
1831 J. Sinclair Corr. II. 13 General laws, relative to naturalization and citizenship.
1864 Times 21 Apr. 14/2 The City of London invites you [sc. G. Garibaldi] to-day to accept the highest honour at her disposal, placing your distinguished name upon the list of worthies inscribed upon the roll of honorary citizenship.
1914 I. Cohen Jewish Life Mod. Times iii. i. 139 The demand for full rights of citizenship made by the progressive Jews was at first..opposed by the leaders of the Amsterdam community.
1959 Listener 15 Oct. 614/1 Exile has been regarded as an occupational hazard for poets in particular ever since Plato denied them rights of citizenship in his republic.
2004 H. Kennedy Just Law (2005) ii. 30 Suspected terrorists can now be stripped of their citizenship.
2. Engagement in the duties and responsibilities of a member of society. Frequently with modifying word. Also: these duties and responsibilities as a subject of study.
ΚΠ
1775 J. Disney Remarks Dr. Balguy's Serm. 13 In cases wherein good citizenship is not concerned.
1796 C. E. Stewart 2nd Let. to Mr. Sheridan 10 I could hardly bring myself to believe that this man of moderation, this sequestered hermit, was the Mr. Tooke, whose whole life had been spent in the duties of active citizenship.
1822 Republican 2 Aug. 308 Several very appropriate remarks were made on the occasion in the true spirit of citizenship.
1857 Bible Defender 2 193 We can see no obstruction in faith to prevent good citizenship.
1908 R. S. S. Baden-Powell Scouting for Boys vi. 335 Bad citizenship, which ruined the Roman Empire, is creeping in among us today.
1939 Boys' Life Oct. 17/2 Scouting..has shown me the principles of good sportsmanship and good citizenship.
1992 E. B. Gorham National Service, Citizenship, & Polit. Educ. i. 16 Citizenship means being conscious that one is responsible to a polity, and this idea of responsibility is one that an individual must recognize through both loyalty and reason.
2001 School Sci. Rev. Sept. 33/1 From September 2002 a new subject is added to the National Curriculum for key stages 3 and 4, ‘Citizenship’.
2013 Salisbury Jrnl. (Nexis) 25 Sept. Active citizenship is increasingly vital in keeping communities safe in a time of austerity.
Compounds
General attributive.
ΚΠ
1863 J. S. Wright tr. H. Grotius (title) Citizenship Sovereignty.
1895 Southern Workman June 93 Once a week the most advanced boys have a citizenship class.
1952 N.Y. Times 18 May e11/1 At these meetings, teachers plan new citizenship programs for their own schools.
1970 J. Malloy Bolivia iii. 59 Through property and literacy requirements, over three-fourths of the population were denied citizenship status.
1989 Washington Post Mag. 2 July 14/1 Kaplan and his classmates..spent their nights struggling to learn enough English to pass the citizenship test.
2004 A. Maillot New Sinn Fein (2005) iv. 127 The citizenship referendum was passed by an overwhelming majority.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1611