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 of caretaker

• custodian
• keeper
• janitor
• warden
• guardian

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

The Spanish-specific courses Cancer CAREpoint offers helped comfort her monolingual mother, who had been her caretaker and had always been somewhat apprehensive of accepting services from the government. —Katie Lauer, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025

The facility said Forrest is getting to know his caretakers and building trust with his fellow monkey residents. —Cbs News Philadelphia Staff, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025

Le Bris is the sixth head coach after Lee Johnson, Alex Neil, Tony Mowbray, Michael Beale and, in three caretaker spells, Mike Dodds. —Michael Walker, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

His request was granted in April, and he's been her caretaker since. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Nov. 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