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 The rules of this club are as follows: 1) no one (caregiver) knows what to do or has all of the answers, 2) the teens are actually all right, 3) the technology cannot be tamed and still cannot be ignored, and 4) connection (in all the ways) is king. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023 Bright Futures identifies the caregivers who qualify for the homes. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2023 Keanu loves to learn new songs from both his caregivers and peers. BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2023 Parents or caregivers don’t need to read the exact words; rather tell the story from what is pictured. Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023 But Take Note: Only works with Apple products, and only one caregiver can track it. Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 14 Sep. 2023 Already, the county estimates that 77 percent of parents struggle to find caregivers for their children, Lawson-Remer said. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023 In addition, the rules would require prominent warning labels emphasizing the hazards associated with rockers, urging caregivers not to allow babies to sleep in the rockers or put soft bedding in the products. Suzy Khimm, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2023 Parents and caregivers also have different ideas of what’s appropriate for their families. Heather Kelly, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Sep. 2023 See More

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 26 Sep. 2023.

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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