caregiver

noun

care·​giv·​er ˈker-ˌgi-vər How to pronounce caregiver (audio)
plural caregivers
Synonyms of caregivernext
: 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
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.
The impact may extend beyond caregivers. Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 Our students arrive in crisis — many presenting with self-harm, suicidality, and aggression toward peers and caregivers — having already cycled through psychiatric hospitals, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and other settings without success. Samantha Rappaport, CBS News, 18 May 2026 And parents and caregivers may not be aware that these items are being misused in this way. Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 15 May 2026 Full-time caregivers who rely on Medicaid face difficult choices as budget cuts loom. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for caregiver

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caregiver was in 1886

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Caregiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caregiver. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster