caretaker

noun

care·​tak·​er ˈker-ˌtā-kər 

1

: one that gives physical or emotional care and support

served as caretaker to the younger children

2

: one that takes care of the house or land of an owner who may be absent

3

: one temporarily fulfilling the function of office

a caretaker government

caretake

ˈker-ˌtāk 

verb

caretaking

ˈker-ˌtā-kiŋ 

noun

Synonyms

• custodian
• guardian
• janitor
• keeper
• warden
• watchman

Examples of caretaker in a Sentence

We have a caretaker who watches the place for us while we are away.

hired a caretaker for the mansion during the winter months

Recent Examples on the Web

On July 1, 2025, the state of Connecticut’s Department of Administrative Services will become the owners and caretakers of this land and the $63 million in reserves. —Sarah McCoy, Hartford Courant, 18 May 2025

Her interactions with his caretaker, Ada, evolve into a tense psychological cat-and-mouse game with potentially fatal consequences. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 May 2025

The first, which will debut this fall, is all about a pup named Tracker, who lives in the jungle with his caretaker, Carlos. —Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 15 May 2025

An elderly widow succumbing to dementia stops him, and Hai quickly becomes her caretaker. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for caretaker

• automaker
• boilermaker
• cabinetmaker
• coffeemaker
• troublemaker
• undertaker
• blackacre
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker
• homemaker
• icebreaker

Kids Definition

caretaker

noun

care·​tak·​er ˈke(ə)r-ˌtā-kər 

ˈka(ə)r-

: one that takes care of buildings or land often for an absent owner