stewardship

noun

stew·​ard·​ship ˈstü-ərd-ˌship 

ˈstyü-;

ˈst(y)u̇rd-

1

: the office, duties, and obligations of a steward

2

: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something

especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care

stewardship of natural resources

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).

Synonyms

• management
• supervision
• handling
• administration
• operation
• control
• oversight
• governance
• government
• direction

Examples of stewardship in a Sentence

generally the dean left the day-to-day stewardship of the college to the assistant dean

she believes that stewardship of the environment is everyone's responsibility

Recent Examples on the Web

If elected, Dahle said his main priority is to ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources while supporting the district’s mission of providing high-quality education for all students. —Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025

Issues important to Sellers include public safety, fiscal responsibility, and environmental stewardship, according to his campaign website. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2025

They were heartened by their peers’ interest in reclaiming land stewardship practices and ensuring access for future generations. —Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025

James spoke to his goal of strengthening each of the sheriff's office's three pillars of safety, service and stewardship. —Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stewardship

• authorship
• battleship
• censorship
• chairmanship
• chieftainship
• comradeship
• consulship
• craftsmanship
• dealership
• draftsmanship
• fellowship
• fingertip

Kids Definition

stewardship

noun

stew·​ard·​ship ˈst(y)ü-ərd-ˌship 

ˈst(y)u̇(-ə)rd-

1

: the office and duties of a steward

2

: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care

stewardship of our natural resources