workmanship

noun

work·​man·​ship ˈwərk-mən-ˌship How to pronounce workmanship (audio)
1
: something effected, made, or produced : work
2
: the art or skill of a workman
also : the quality imparted to a thing in the process of making
a vase of exquisite workmanship

Examples of workmanship in a Sentence

The problems were caused by cheap materials and poor workmanship. The excellent workmanship of the cabinets is remarkable.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Photo : Courtesy of Tiffany & Co. A Dazzling Finish After more than 1,000 hours of workmanship, the piece is complete. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2024 From a freak accident that blew a door-size hole into the fuselage of an airborne 737 Max to revelations of sloppy workmanship and now a crippling strike entering its second month — the icon of US manufacturing hasn’t been able to catch a break since the first days of January. Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2024 The company has been subject to whistleblower accounts recounting years of unauthorized work and defects that allege management prioritized production targets and financial goals over diligence and sound workmanship. Julie Johnsson, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2024 Nicholas digitized the embroidery on the antique tablecloths to patchwork the pieces on the trousers, and Mr Smith filled in the embroidery, carefully matching the old style of workmanship. Katherine Bernard, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for workmanship 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of workmanship was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near workmanship

Cite this Entry

“Workmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workmanship. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

workmanship

noun
work·​man·​ship ˈwərk-mən-ˌship How to pronounce workmanship (audio)
1
: the art or skill of a workman : craftsmanship
2
: the quality of a piece of work
the excellent workmanship of the desk

More from Merriam-Webster on workmanship

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!