membership

The word “membership” means the state or status of belonging to a group or organisation. In plain terms, either the fact of belonging to a group, or all the people who belong to it.

Here is “membership” used in a sentence: “She renewed her gym membership for another year.”

“Membership” is a noun.

“Membership” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Membership” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state or status of belonging to a group or organisation.

Membership is the status of belonging to a group or organisation, often bringing rights such as voting or access. A subscription is simply a paid arrangement to receive a product or service regularly, like a magazine. Membership implies belonging and identity; a subscription is usually just a transaction.

Common types include individual, family, student, corporate and lifetime membership, along with honorary or associate categories in clubs and societies. Many organisations also offer tiered levels — such as standard, premium or gold — that grant different benefits, access or voting rights depending on the level chosen.

It depends on the organisation's rules. Some memberships are personal and non-transferable, tied to a named individual. Others, especially corporate or seat-based memberships, can be passed to another person or renewed by a different holder. Always check the specific terms, as policies vary widely between clubs and services.

Belonging to a gym, a political party, a professional body, or a streaming service's loyalty scheme are all examples of membership. In each case you hold a recognised status within the group, usually with defined benefits, obligations, and sometimes a fee to maintain it.