WordGarden.iohusbandry
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈʌsbəndri/
US
- /ˈhəzbəndri/
Meanings
Noun
the care, breeding, and management of farm animals or crops
careful management and conservation of resources
Beyond the definition
Husbandry is mainly about the care of livestock and crops, so it is most often used in farming and animal care. It suggests skilled, careful management: raising animals well, looking after land, and using resources wisely. In older or broader use, it can also mean economical and responsible management in general.
When people speak of "good husbandry," they usually mean thoughtful care and steady attention, especially in agriculture. The word also carries an older sense of thrift and good planning, which is why it sometimes appears in literary or historical writing beyond the farm.
Husbandry is the careful breeding, raising, and management of farm animals and, more broadly, the cultivation and management of crops and land. The word usually appears in agricultural contexts, where it suggests more than simple upkeep. It points to skilled, practical care aimed at keeping animals healthy, land productive, and resources well used over time. Common examples include animal husbandry, dairy husbandry, and fish husbandry.
Historically, husbandry could also mean thrift or careful household management. In older texts, a person showing good husbandry was not only farming well but also managing money, supplies, and daily life with care. That wider sense still helps explain the tone of the word, even though modern English usually uses it in connection with farming, livestock, or environmental care.
The idea behind husbandry is responsible stewardship: caring for living things or productive resources in a way that supports long-term success. Because of that, the word is sometimes extended to related fields, such as forest husbandry or the husbandry of captive animals, where careful management and future results matter. Still, the clearest and most common meaning remains the skilled care of animals, crops, and agricultural resources.
At its heart, husbandry is about looking after something valuable with patience, knowledge, and foresight. Whether someone is tending cattle, managing a fish farm, or caring for fertile soil, the word suggests deliberate, informed care rather than careless use.
Examples
- 1
Farming education
The college offers courses in animal husbandry for new farmers.
- 2
Animal care
Good husbandry means checking the animals every day and keeping their pens clean.
- Phrasegood husbandry
careful, skilled care and management
- 3
Public money
The audit called for better husbandry of public money.
- Patternhusbandry of + resource
careful use and management of it
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- stockbreeding
- cultivation
- farm management
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- animal husbandry
- crop husbandry
- good husbandry
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- husbandrynoun
Forms
- husbandriespluralnoun