stewardship
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.”
How to use stewardship
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLooking after something properly on behalf of other people.
Formal and slightly high-minded; common in charity, church, conservation and corporate governance writing.
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.