housekeeper

noun

house·​keep·​er ˈhau̇s-ˌkē-pər 

1

: one employed to manage the domestic duties involved in maintaining a house

2

: a member of a household who manages the domestic duties of the household

She was her father's housekeeper …

—Lucy Maud Montgomery

especially : one who keeps house in a specified way

was always a good/poor housekeeper

… a tidy housekeeper who kept flowers outside his unit …

—Kyle Swenson

Synonyms

• biddy
• char [British]
• charwoman
• handmaiden
• handmaid
• house girl
• housemaid
• maid
• maidservant
• skivvy [British]
• wench [old-fashioned]

Examples of housekeeper in a Sentence

they hired a housekeeper to help their aging parents live at home

Recent Examples on the Web

Woman alleges Smokey Robinson assault at singer's Las Vegas home Another woman who allegedly worked as a housekeeper for Robinson claimed the singer raped her during a work trip in the late 2000s. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 7 May 2025

Smokey, 85, is accused of harassing and assaulting four former housekeepers who worked at his Chatsworth home between 2006 and 2024, according to the suit. —Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2025

The Brady Bunch also featured Maureen McCormick as eldest sister Marcia and the late Ann B. Davis as housekeeper Alice. —Grace Harrington, People.com, 5 May 2025

When a live-in housekeeper accidentally breaks a valuable item, her decision to hide her transgression from her employers has devastating consequences. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1528, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for housekeeper

• beekeeper
• bookkeeper
• doorkeeper
• gamekeeper
• gatekeeper
• goalkeeper
• innkeeper
• minesweeper
• peacekeeper
• shopkeeper
• storekeeper
• timekeeper

Kids Definition

housekeeper

noun

house·​keep·​er ˈhau̇-ˌskē-pər 

: a person employed to take care of a house