Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person responsible for managing property, lands, or animals: A steward is someone entrusted with the care and management of something belonging to another person or organization.
   • A union representative: A steward is a union member elected by fellow workers to represent their interests in dealings with management.
   • A flight attendant: A steward is an attendant responsible for passenger service and safety on an airplane.
   • A ship's officer in charge of provisions: A steward is a ship's officer responsible for managing food supplies and dining arrangements.
   • A manager of another's affairs: A steward is someone who administers or manages the property or financial affairs of another person.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The estate steward managed the farmland and collected rents for the absent lord.
  • As the union steward, she presented the workers' grievances to the company.
  • The steward kindly brought me a pillow during the long flight.
  • We spoke to the chief steward about the menu for the captain's dinner.
  • He acted as a financial steward for his elderly aunt, handling all her investments.

Advanced Usage

• "To act as a steward of": To manage or be responsible for something valuable, often with a sense of ethical duty.
  • We must act as responsible stewards of the planet's natural resources for future generations.
• "Shop steward": A specific term for a union representative in a workplace.
  • The shop steward organized a meeting to discuss the new safety protocols.

Variants and Related Words

• Stewardship (n): The position, duties, or service of a steward; responsible management.
  • His stewardship of the charity's funds was highly praised.
• Stewardess (n): A female flight attendant. (Note: This term is now often replaced by the gender-neutral "flight attendant" or "cabin crew.")
  • The stewardess demonstrated the safety procedures.

Synonyms

• Manager: A person responsible for controlling or administering an organization or group of staff.
• Custodian: A person who has responsibility for or looks after something.
• Representative: A person chosen or appointed to act or speak for another or others.
• Attendant: A person employed to provide a service to the public, especially on a vehicle.

Related Phrases

• Chief steward: The senior attendant in charge of other stewards on a ship or aircraft.
  • The chief steward oversees all passenger services.
• Land steward: A person responsible for managing an area of land, often for conservation.
  • The land steward developed a plan to restore the native meadow.

Related Idioms

• Good stewardship: The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
  • The board's good stewardship ensured the company's long-term survival.

Noun

1. one having charge of buildings or grounds or animals
2. a union member who is elected to represent fellow workers in negotiating with management
3. an attendant on an airplane
4. the ship's officer who is in charge of provisions and dining arrangements
5. someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else