stewardship
noun
Christine ChitnisHudson Bridges (Jay Jacobs)
Did you know?
Good Stewardship
When stewardship first appeared in English during the Middle Ages, it functioned as a job description, denoting the office of a steward, or manager of a large household. Over the centuries, its range of reference spread to the oversight of law courts, employee unions, college dining halls, Masonic lodges, and many other organizations. In recent years, the long-established "management" sense of stewardship has evolved a positive meaning, “careful and responsible management.” This sense is commonly found nowadays in contexts such as “stewardship of the environment, the family business,” etc. It also occasionally appears as an adjective in phrases such as “stewardship fundraising" (that is, fundraising aimed at building good relationships with donors in order to keep them loyal).
Examples of stewardship in a Sentence
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 May 2026
The goal is to reduce exposure, limit the impact of a breach and demonstrate disciplined stewardship to regulators, partners and patients.
—Mark Boxer, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
The more our voices are raised and registered, the stronger our message urging Congress to listen to the people who want protection and stewardship, not short-term exploitation of our public land.
—Scott Braden, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
Proceeds benefit 17 nonprofit organizations across North County, supporting initiatives in youth development, education, the arts, environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and community wellness.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stewardship
Cite this Entry
“Stewardship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stewardship. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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stewardship
noun
