citizenship
legal status of being a citizen
The legal position of being a member of a country, with special rights and duties in that country.
citizenship of [a country]
- After living there for ten years, she finally received British citizenship.
- The new law will make it harder for immigrants to gain citizenship.
- He has both Canadian and Italian citizenship through his parents.
- The government revoked his citizenship after the court ruling.
- Questions about your citizenship must be answered truthfully on the form.
- My parents moved here, but I got citizenship when I was born.
- She is studying for the test to get citizenship.
- He has citizenship of two countries.
- They applied for citizenship last year.
- The form asks about your country of citizenship.
responsible behavior as a citizen
The way a person should act as a good member of a country or community, by following rules and helping other people.
[adjective] citizenship
- The school encourages students to show good citizenship by volunteering in the community.
- Voting is often described as an important part of active citizenship.
- Her quiet daily work to keep the neighborhood clean is a real example of citizenship.
- The program aims to build a sense of citizenship among young people.
- They gave him an award for outstanding citizenship after the flood.
- Good citizenship includes helping your neighbors.
- Recycling is a simple act of citizenship.
- The teacher talks about citizenship in class.
- Voting is part of good citizenship.
- He showed good citizenship by returning the lost wallet.
school subject about civic life
A class in school where students learn about rights, laws, and how people should act in society and in politics.
citizenship class / citizenship education
- In many schools, citizenship is now a compulsory subject.
- The citizenship curriculum covers human rights, democracy, and the justice system.
- She teaches citizenship to 14‑year‑olds three times a week.
- Citizenship classes help students understand how elections work.
- The government is investing more money in citizenship education.
- We have citizenship on Friday mornings.
- In citizenship class, we talk about human rights.
- Our school started a new citizenship course this year.
- The citizenship teacher explained how laws are made.
- Citizenship lessons help students learn about voting.
- Base: citizenship
- Plural: citizenship
acquire citizenship
1come to have citizenship
To get citizenship, often through birth, marriage, or naturalization.
- Children born abroad can sometimes acquire citizenship through their parents.
- He acquired citizenship by marrying a local citizen.
apply for citizenship
1formally request citizenship
To send forms and documents to a government because you want to become a citizen of that country.
- She plans to apply for citizenship as soon as she becomes eligible.
- Many residents apply for citizenship after living there for several years.
birthright citizenship
1citizenship given by birthplace
A system where a baby automatically becomes a citizen of a country if they are born there.
- The debate over birthright citizenship has become very political.
- In that country, birthright citizenship applies to almost everyone born on its soil.
citizenship application
1official request for citizenship
The set of forms and documents that a person sends to the government to ask to become a citizen.
- Her citizenship application was approved in just six months.
- They filled out the citizenship application together at the legal clinic.
citizenship ceremony
1official event for new citizens
A special event where people officially become citizens, often by saying an oath and getting a paper.
- Friends and family joined him at the citizenship ceremony.
- During the citizenship ceremony, they welcomed people from over fifty countries.
citizenship status
1someone’s current citizenship position
Information about whether a person is a citizen, and if so, of which country or countries.
- You must declare your citizenship status on the form.
- Her citizenship status is still being reviewed by the authorities.
citizenship test
1exam for new citizens
A test about language and facts (for example, about history or law) that people must pass to become citizens.
- She is studying for the citizenship test next month.
- The citizenship test includes questions about the country’s political system.
full citizenship
1citizenship with complete rights
Citizenship with all normal rights, such as voting and working freely, and all duties.
- Permanent residents do not have full citizenship.
- After the reform, they were finally granted full citizenship.
gain citizenship
1successfully obtain citizenship
To become a citizen of a country, usually after following a legal process.
- He gained citizenship after ten years of living there.
- Thousands of immigrants gained citizenship through the new program.
good citizenship
1responsible and helpful civic behavior
The way a person acts when they try to be a helpful and responsible member of their community or country.
- The school rewards students for good citizenship.
- Volunteering at the shelter is an example of good citizenship.
grant citizenship
1officially give citizenship
When a government officially says that someone is now a citizen of that country.
- The state decided to grant citizenship to all refugees who arrived before 2010.
- Only the federal government can grant citizenship in that country.
path to citizenship
1process to become a citizen
The legal way or plan that lets people become citizens of a country in the future.
- The proposal offers a clear path to citizenship for undocumented migrants.
- Many activists are calling for a faster path to citizenship.
strip someone of their citizenship
1officially take away citizenship
To take away a person’s citizenship by an official decision of the government.
- The government threatened to strip him of his citizenship.
- Under the new law, they can strip people of their citizenship for serious crimes.
dual citizenship
1Being citizen of two countries
When someone is a citizen of two countries at the same time.
- He has dual citizenship in the US and Italy.
- Because her parents are from different countries, she has dual citizenship.
- Dual citizenship can make travel easier.
- The new law makes it easier to keep dual citizenship.
renounce citizenship
1formally give up citizenship
To officially say you are no longer a citizen of a country.
- He chose to renounce citizenship in his home country after moving abroad permanently.
- Applicants must renounce citizenship of any other state before taking the oath.
renounce citizenship
2formally give up citizenship
To officially say that you do not want to be a citizen of a country anymore.
- He chose to renounce his citizenship for tax reasons.
- People must visit the embassy if they want to renounce citizenship.