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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is more about considering the overall quality and workmanship of the piece. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026 Second, roofers who are willing to absorb deductible costs, which can easily be several thousand dollars per customer, are going to make that money back somehow, likely by cutting corners with low-quality workmanship. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026 Liberty Home Guard’s 365-day workmanship guarantee and consistently high customer ratings stand out. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 25 June 2026 For over 200 years, its workmanship has been carried out entirely by hand, only in Torre del Greco, which, together with the art of cameo engraving, is recognized as the world capital of this tradition. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 27 May 2026 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

Rhymes for workmanship

See All Rhymes for workmanship

Browse Nearby Words

workmanly
workmanship
workmaster
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Workmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/workmanship. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of workmanship for Spanish Speakers

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