Etymologically
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citizenship

Etymology and origin of the English word citizenship

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1611
Ultimate origins
Anglo-Norman (citesein)English (-ship)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
English citizen
English citizenship

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp/ (UK)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English citizen + -ship.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The status of a citizen with its rights and privileges: 1611 in the OED and MWU, the 1610s in Etymonline.[4][3][2]

Semantic evolution

A person's conduct as a citizen, as in an award for good citizenship, is a later sense.[5]

Timeline

  • 1611 – the status of a citizen.[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The status of a citizen, with its rights, duties and privileges.
  2. A person's conduct as a citizen.

Word family

  • dual citizenship

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Citizenship.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/citizenship. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·