homesteading

noun

home·​stead·​ing ˈhōm-ˌste-diŋ How to pronounce homesteading (audio)
1
: the act or practice of acquiring, settling on, or occupying land under a homestead law (see homestead law sense 2)
Homesteading was a minor factor in farm formation; most farmers purchased their land.Richard Edwards et al.
Homesteaders still were receiving no training or farm development loans from the Bureau, and this became a major issue in Congressional debates over postwar homesteading.Brian Q. Cannon
2
: the act or practice of living frugally or self-sufficiently (as on a homestead) especially by growing and preserving food
While homesteading is full of … delicious homegrown food, and quality family time, it is also chock-full of chores and life lessons.Jenna Dooley
In Madison County, food preservation techniques and other homesteading skills remain a big part of daily life, said Koontz, and many locals stay closely tied to their land and what it can produce.Mackensy Lunsford
… an urban homesteading venture in which he grows vegetables and makes kombucha, herbal salves and more out of his home.Courtney Lamdin and Sasha Goldstein

Examples of homesteading in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web To what extent Reconstruction legislation also effectively succeeded in opening up this homesteading option to Blacks remains to be researched. arkansasonline.com, 7 Sep. 2024 The fine print: Some say the term homesteading comes from a time when settlers were moving west, displacing indigenous Native Americans from their land. Christine Clarridge, Axios, 22 July 2024 All three do outside consulting on various aspects of gardening, homesteading and raising chickens, which led to Occidental College recruiting Jordanne to teach a popular class in regenerative gardening and sustainable animal care, with occasional input from her siblings. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2024 Flathead Valley, Montana, known for its rugged beauty, offers ample land suitable for homesteading and self-sufficient living. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for homesteading 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'homesteading.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of homesteading was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near homesteading

Cite this Entry

“Homesteading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homesteading. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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