homesteading
noun
home·stead·ing
ˈhōm-ˌste-diŋ
1
: the act or practice of acquiring, settling on, or occupying land under a homestead law (see homestead law sense 2)
Homesteading was a minor factor in farm formation; most farmers purchased their land.—Richard Edwards et al.
Homesteaders still were receiving no training or farm development loans from the Bureau, and this became a major issue in Congressional debates over postwar homesteading.—Brian Q. Cannon
2
: the act or practice of living frugally or self-sufficiently (as on a homestead) especially by growing and preserving food
While homesteading is full of … delicious homegrown food, and quality family time, it is also chock-full of chores and life lessons.—Jenna Dooley
In Madison County, food preservation techniques and other homesteading skills remain a big part of daily life, said Koontz, and many locals stay closely tied to their land and what it can produce.—Mackensy Lunsford
… an urban homesteading venture in which he grows vegetables and makes kombucha, herbal salves and more out of his home.—Courtney Lamdin and Sasha Goldstein
Cite this Entry
“Homesteading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homesteading. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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