WordGarden.iostint
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /stˈɪnt/
US
- /ˈstɪnt/
Meanings
Noun
a short limited period spent in a job, role, or activity
a small shorebird related to sandpipers
Verb
to give, use, or spend too little of something
Beyond the definition
Imagine a baker who only has a little flour left. They might stint on the amount they use, meaning they give or use less than they would like so the supply lasts longer. This is the verb form of the word. It often suggests holding back because there is not enough to spare. But stint is also very common as a noun for a fixed period of work or service. For example, "a short stint as a teacher" means a brief, clear stretch of time spent in that role. If your parents stint on your allowance, they give you less than usual so you will spend more carefully.
The word "stint" has a useful dual meaning. It can be a verb meaning to limit, spare, or use too little of something, usually because supplies are short or someone wants to be careful. Think of a pioneer family facing a harsh winter; they might stint on firewood, carefully rationing their supply to make it last. It can also mean not being generous enough, as in stint on praise or stint the children on food. As a noun, a stint is most often a fixed period of work, service, or activity. Historically, it could also mean a set share or amount assigned to someone, and that older idea helps explain the sense of measured limits that still surrounds the word.
You might stint on heating during tough economic times, or a politician might serve a short stint in office before retiring. The word often carries a sense of discipline, pressure, or sacrifice. It is not just about reducing something in a casual way; it suggests that there are real limits, whether in money, time, energy, or supply. While "He served a long stint in the military" points to a stretch of service, the phrase "without stint" means without holding back at all, especially in giving, effort, or praise.
Whether you are talking about using less, giving less, or spending a certain period in a role, "stint" is a word about limits, measured effort, and life within clear boundaries.
Examples
- 1
Summer job
She did a summer stint at a local bakery before college.
- 2
Military service
He had a brief stint in the army when he was young.
- 3
Editorial role
My aunt had a stint as editor of the magazine in the 1990s.
- 4
Returning to company
This is her second stint with the company.
- Patternsecond stint with + organization
a second period working in the same place
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Hospitality
The hotel didn't stint on comfort, even in the cheaper rooms.
- Patternnot stint on + thing
be generous with it; not try to save money on it
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- stintnounverb
Forms
- stintspluralnounverb
- stintedpast tenseverbnoun
- stinting-ing formverbnoun