Home US English -ship

Definition of -ship in English:

-ship

Pronunciation /ʃɪp/

suffix

  • 1Forming nouns denoting a quality or condition.

    ‘companionship’
    • ‘friendship’

  • 2Forming nouns denoting status, office, or honor.

    ‘ambassadorship’
    • ‘citizenship’
    1. 2.1Forming nouns denoting a tenure of office.
      • ‘chairmanship’

  • 3Forming nouns denoting a skill in a certain capacity.

    • ‘entrepreneurship’

  • 4Forming nouns denoting the collective individuals of a group.

    • ‘membership’

Origin

Old English -scipe, scype, of Germanic origin.