caregiver

noun

care·​giv·​er ˈker-ˌgi-vər How to pronounce caregiver (audio)
plural caregivers
: a person who provides direct care (as for children, elderly people, or the chronically ill)
The care of a patient with Alzheimer's Disease or a related disorder can be a physical, emotional and financial drain on the family caregiver.Diane Duquette Ascioti
Each child was rated by at least one parent. Questionnaires completed by another significant caregiver (teacher or daycare provider) were available on 85% of the sample …Alan E. Kazdin et al.
You probably can imagine the difficulty a caregiver can have getting an immobile patient into a whirlpool.Paul G. Donahue
caregiving noun
… researchers have repeatedly documented the psychiatric and physical health effects of family caregiving. Richard Schulz et al.
Many readers … had their own stories of being treated badly at work because of caregiving duties. Sue Shellenbarger
One of the most significant ways you can help animals, educate yourself about the joys and heartbreaks of caregiving and earn untold psychic rewards is to volunteer at a shelter. Wendy Christensen

Examples of caregiver in a Sentence

When she got sick her husband became her primary caregiver. he could no longer keep up his role as caregiver for his sick wife
Recent Examples on the Web Nor can grandparents and other caregivers who take children to routine appointments when parents can’t. Amy Maxmen, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 Our Review Process Parents and caregivers are the foremost experts on toys that 1-year-olds love and actually engage with. Julie Evans, Parents, 22 Mar. 2024 The new form also particularly hurt students who could not provide a social security number for their parents or caregivers. Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024 Laws rarely consider certain types of caregivers, such as stay-at-home parents and family, friends, and neighbors. Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 In addition, every day on every set, there were always parents and caregivers and their friends watching filming and rehearsals. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 Simply put, children struggle when their primary caregivers struggle. Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu Reprints, STAT, 18 Mar. 2024 There were exceptions to this rule—friends without kids who are instinctive caregivers in addition to being excellent cooks. Mackenzie Chung Fegan, Bon Appétit, 18 Mar. 2024 Children's Action Alliance, Phoenix, $15,000 To protect the rights and amplify the voices of foster youth, kinship caregivers and other community members impacted by the child welfare system. Alexis Waiss, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caregiver.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caregiver was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near caregiver

Cite this Entry

“Caregiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caregiver. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

caregiver

noun
care·​giv·​er -ˌgiv-ər How to pronounce caregiver (audio)
: a person who provides direct care (as for children, elderly people, or the chronically ill)
parents and other caregivers
caregiving noun

More from Merriam-Webster on caregiver

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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