stewardship
noun
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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
Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2025
The employees said cuts, which have hit the agency’s recreation, wildlife, IT and other divisions, show the Trump administration is shifting the agency’s focus away from environmental stewardship and toward industry and firefighting.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 7 Apr. 2025
By prioritizing sustainable infrastructure, the industry can pave the way for a future where technological progress and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
—Chris Sharp, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Now the property, including its accompanying museum and gardens, is maintained under the stewardship of Florida State University.
—Thao Thai, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stewardship
Cite this Entry
“Stewardship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stewardship. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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stewardship
noun
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