steward

American  

[stoo-erd, styoo-] / ˈstu ərd, ˈstyu- /

noun

1. a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.

2. a person who has charge of the household of another, buying or obtaining food, directing the servants, etc.

3. an employee who has charge of the table, wine, servants, etc., in a club, restaurant, or the like.

4. a person who attends to the domestic concerns of persons on board a vessel, as in overseeing maids and waiters.

5. an employee on a ship, train, or bus who waits on and is responsible for the comfort of passengers, takes orders for or distributes food, etc.

6. a flight attendant.

7. a person appointed by an organization or group to supervise the affairs of that group at certain functions.

8. U.S. Navy. a petty officer in charge of officer's quarters and mess.

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verb (used with object)

1. to act as steward of; manage.

verb (used without object)

1. to act or serve as steward.

steward British  

/ ˈstjʊəd /

noun

1. a person who administers the property, house, finances, etc, of another

2. a person who manages the eating arrangements, staff, or service at a club, hotel, etc

3. a person who attends to passengers on an aircraft, ship or train

4. a mess attendant in a naval mess afloat or ashore

5. a person who helps to supervise some event or proceedings in an official capacity

6. short for shop steward

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verb

1. to act or serve as a steward (of something)

Other Word Forms

• stewardship
  noun
• understeward
  noun

Etymology

Origin of steward

before 900; Middle English; Old English stīweard, stigweard, equivalent to stig- (sense uncertain; probably “house, hall”; see sty ¹) + weard ward ( def. )

Explanation

A steward is someone who takes care of the grounds or animals of a particular place. If your parents are always traveling and you have to take care of your six younger siblings, you probably feel like the steward of the house. You might have heard the term "stewardess," a female flight attendant, but the name has trickled out of use in favor of the gender-neutral "flight attendant." A steward is the male version of that. Anyone who takes care of places or people is a steward. You can be a steward of artifacts from an architectural dig. You can also be elected to be the steward of your co-workers retirement fund. Either way, someone's trusting you with their stuff.

Example Sentences

He promoted himself as a steward of constitutional continuity.

From Salon • May 11, 2026

And as is his talent, departing vision steward Anderson ties it up in a bow, with a nod to ”our terrifying and exhilarating future.”

From Slate • May 8, 2026

An air steward from the Dutch KLM carrier is being tested for the virus after possibly having come in contact with an infected person on a flight, it said.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

Mostly, however, Boston is steaming at principal owner John Henry, a former civic hero who’s become regarded as an aloof steward distracted by investments like Liverpool in the English Premier League.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

The trio placed themselves before the doors of the church where the steward briefly addressed the crowd.

From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi

Related Words

• flight attendant
• hostess
• stewardess
• waiter
• waitress