workmanship

noun

work·​man·​ship ˈwərk-mən-ˌship How to pronounce workmanship (audio)
1
: something effected, made, or produced : work
2
: the art or skill of a workman
also : the quality imparted to a thing in the process of making
a vase of exquisite workmanship

Examples of workmanship in a Sentence

The problems were caused by cheap materials and poor workmanship. The excellent workmanship of the cabinets is remarkable.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Making these breads takes over 72 hours of slow and careful workmanship. Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 Those who cross the finish line return to homes with shoddy workmanship that should never have passed inspection. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024 Photo : Courtesy of Tiffany & Co. A Dazzling Finish After more than 1,000 hours of workmanship, the piece is complete. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2024 From a freak accident that blew a door-size hole into the fuselage of an airborne 737 Max to revelations of sloppy workmanship and now a crippling strike entering its second month — the icon of US manufacturing hasn’t been able to catch a break since the first days of January. Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for workmanship 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of workmanship was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near workmanship

Cite this Entry

“Workmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workmanship. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

workmanship

noun
work·​man·​ship ˈwərk-mən-ˌship How to pronounce workmanship (audio)
1
: the art or skill of a workman : craftsmanship
2
: the quality of a piece of work
the excellent workmanship of the desk

More from Merriam-Webster on workmanship

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!