breadwinner

noun

bread·​win·​ner ˈbred-ˌwi-nər How to pronounce breadwinner (audio)
plural breadwinners
1
: a member of a family whose wages supply the family's principal or only means of support
the main/primary/sole breadwinner in the family
… many more households have two breadwinners, making it unlikely that there will be someone home all afternoon to cook.Mark Bittman
2
: a means (such as a tool, craft, or activity) of livelihood : a way of earning income
Crop diversity kept the overall value of Montana agriculture strong even as wheat, the state agriculture's breadwinner, faltered.Tom Lutey
Catfish farming has become the breadwinner industry for many families in west Alabama …Robert Dewitt and Benita D. Newton
breadwinning noun

Examples of breadwinner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In his absence, Cooper's wife and three young children, who'd lost their breadwinner, became homeless. Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 July 2025 This push into traditional housewife and breadwinner roles came after many women had been working outside the home during the war in jobs usually held by men. Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2025 As of the previous year, 45 percent of moms, and a full 69 percent of Black moms, were breadwinners in their households. Anna North, Vox, 26 June 2025 Her brother had been the primary breadwinner for her and her three children. Emily Witt, New Yorker, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for breadwinner

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1614, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of breadwinner was circa 1614

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Cite this Entry

“Breadwinner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breadwinner. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

breadwinner

noun
bread·​win·​ner ˈbred-ˌwin-ər How to pronounce breadwinner (audio)
: a person whose wages provide support for his or her family

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