A stint is a period of time spent doing a particular job or activity. When someone does a stint as a camp counselor, they work at the camp for a summer or a season. A teacher might take a stint in the principal's office, filling in while the regular principal is away. The word suggests something temporary rather than permanent.

You might hear someone say they did a stint on the school newspaper or served a stint as class president. The word often describes work or service that has a clear beginning and end. A marine biologist might do a research stint in Antarctica, or a musician might complete a stint touring with a famous band.

The word can also be a verb meaning to limit or provide too little, though this usage is less common. When someone stints on supplies for a project, they provide too little. But you're much more likely to encounter the first meaning: a temporary period of work or activity that's part of someone's larger story.