noun
Uncommon
stewardship
STOO-erd-ship
Stewardship (noun) means the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to your care, especially resources, money or land that others depend on. Example: “The trust praised her stewardship of the woodland over thirty years.”
noun
1
The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to your care, especially resources, money or land that others depend on.
"The trust praised her stewardship of the woodland over thirty years."
"Environmental stewardship means leaving the river in better condition than you found it."
2
The period during which someone holds a position of responsibility, judged by how well they ran things.
"Under his stewardship the club climbed two divisions."
3
In religious contexts, the duty to use one's time, money and gifts responsibly as things held in trust rather than owned outright.
"The sermon was on stewardship and giving."
How to use stewardship
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLooking after something properly on behalf of other people.
When to use it
Formal and slightly high-minded; common in charity, church, conservation and corporate governance writing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
environmental stewardship
financial stewardship
under his stewardship
stewardship of resources
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The trust praised her _____ of the woodland over thirty years.
Etymology
From Old English 'stigweard', literally 'hall keeper' or 'house guardian', plus the suffix '-ship' denoting a state or office.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for stewardship
See all rhymes for stewardship →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between stewardship and ownership?
An owner holds something as their own and may generally do as they like with it. A steward looks after something on behalf of others, including future generations, and is accountable for its condition. The word implies duty rather than entitlement.
What is environmental stewardship?
It is the practice of managing land, water and wildlife so they remain healthy for the long term, rather than extracting as much value as possible now. It covers everything from a farmer's soil management to national conservation policy.
What is data stewardship?
It is the responsibility for keeping an organisation's data accurate, secure and properly used. A data steward defines what a field means, who may access it and how long it is kept.
What is the meaning of stewardship?
"stewardship" (noun) means the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to your care, especially resources, money or land that others depend on.
