membership

noun

mem·​ber·​ship ˈmem-bər-ˌship How to pronounce membership (audio)
plural memberships
Synonyms of membershipnext
1
: the state or status of being a member
2
: the body of members
an organization with a large membership
3
mathematics : the relation between an element of a set (see set entry 2 sense 21) or class and the set or class itself compare inclusion sense 3a

Examples of membership in a Sentence

What is the cost of a one-year membership? Membership in the club doubled last year. clubs that are hoping to increase their membership The club has a large membership. clubs that are hoping to increase their memberships
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ukraine believes security guarantees backed by Western allies are essential to any future settlement, ideally in the form of NATO membership — an option Vladimir Putin has rejected. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Review all your requests, appointments, volunteer work, scheduled phone calls, work and social commitments, and memberships. — Margaret Cirino, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026 Playing for Waycross in 1969, Orange became the state’s second 2,000-yard rusher (after Waynesboro’s Jimmy Barfield in 1955) and the first after the GHSA integrated its membership in 1966. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands became sovereign countries, obtaining membership in the United Nations in September 1991. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for membership

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of membership was in 1614

Rhymes for membership

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Browse Nearby Words

memberless
membership
membership star
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Membership.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/membership. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

membership

noun
mem·​ber·​ship ˈmem-bər-ˌship How to pronounce membership (audio)
1
: the state or status of being a member
2
: all the members of an organization

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