workmanship
Americannoun
-
the art or skill of a workman or workwoman.
-
the quality or mode of execution, as of a thing made.
-
the product or result of labor and skill; work executed.
noun
-
the art or skill of a workman
-
the art or skill with which something is made or executed
-
the degree of art or skill exhibited in the finished product
-
the piece of work so produced
Etymology
Origin of workmanship
First recorded in 1325–75, workmanship is from the Middle English word werkmanschipe. See workman, -ship
Explanation
The noun workmanship can describe the hard work and skill that go into making something or working at a task — and it can also describe a quality of a handmade object that is skillfully crafted. You show workmanship when you labor carefully over a project, and the beautiful hooked rug you create also shows workmanship. If your shop teacher admires the workmanship of your wooden footstool, she is complimenting the quality of your work. The fourteenth century meaning of workmanship was simply "laboring," and later it came to include the idea of "skill in work."
Vocabulary lists containing workmanship
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ship
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Door in the Wall
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
-ship
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Today, they hold pride of place in the Met’s American Wing, where they reward close study for their brilliantly detailed workmanship.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
Such designs required careful planning, skilled workmanship, and an understanding of how tool performance could be improved by combining materials.
From Science Daily • Jan. 31, 2026
However, "bad design and bad workmanship" on the Fishwick project meant that rainwater got trapped behind the insulation and penetrated walls in houses such as the Rashids', according to building surveyor David Walter.
From BBC • Oct. 30, 2025
He is not entitled to be repaid for shoddy workmanship.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 18, 2025
The workmanship was no less fastidious even at the bottom of the board, near the doorsill, where the two penmen, each in his turn, had obviously lain on their stomachs.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
