homesteading

noun

home·​stead·​ing ˈhōm-ˌste-diŋ 

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

Lindsey Chastain is an expert gardener and founder of homesteading website The Waddle and Cluck. —Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 2 Apr. 2026

Self-sufficiency, homesteading and cryptocurrency communities typically aren’t welcoming to law enforcement or other government influence, and Bush has been associated with ideologies like sovereign citizens, a movement that doesn’t accept state and local governments. —Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026

Jaeden Briley lives on a road named for her homesteading family, a narrow dirt track packed with deep snow. —CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026

Renee Pottle, creator of SeedtoPantry, which provides safe food preservation techniques, easy and creative recipes, and suburban homesteading ideas and tips. —Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

homestead entry 2 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for homesteading

• bedding
• dreading
• heading
• shedding
• shredding
• sledding
• spreading
• threading
• treading
• wedding
• beheading
• embedding