membership
Membership (noun) means the state or status of belonging to a group or organisation. Example: “She renewed her gym membership for another year.”
noun
1
The state or status of belonging to a group or organisation.
"He has memberships in clubs in three cities."
"She renewed her gym membership for another year."
"The terms of membership agreement were vague."
"Membership of the library is free for anyone who lives in the town."
"He cancelled his membership of the golf club after moving abroad."
"Hence there resulted a division of the membership of the brotherhood into two classes, the practical and theoretic, or, as they are more commonly called, the operative and speculative, or “domatic” and “geomatic.""
— The Etiquette of Freemasonry: A Handbook for the Brethren (2012)
2
The members of an organisation considered as a group.
"The membership voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new rules."
"The club's membership has grown steadily and now includes many young families."
"Our membership is split between people who want change and those who don't."
How to use membership
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the fact of belonging to a group, or all the people who belong to it.
Common pairings
annual membership
membership fee
gain membership
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Word forms
- Plural
- memberships
- Third person singular
- memberships
- Past tense
- membershipped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She renewed her gym _____ for another year.
Etymology
From member plus the suffix -ship.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for membership
See all rhymes for membership →Frequently asked questions
What does “membership” mean?
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.
How do you use “membership” in a sentence?
Here is “membership” used in a sentence: “She renewed her gym membership for another year.”
What part of speech is “membership”?
“Membership” is a noun.
Is “membership” a common word?
“Membership” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “membership” have?
“Membership” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state or status of belonging to a group or organisation.
What is the difference between membership and subscription?
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.
What are the types of membership?
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.
Can membership be transferred?
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.
What is an example of membership?
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.
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