housekeeper

noun

house·​keep·​er ˈhau̇s-ˌkē-pər How to pronounce housekeeper (audio)
Synonyms of housekeepernext
1
: one employed to manage the domestic duties involved in maintaining a house
2
: a member of a household who manages the domestic duties of the household
She was her father's housekeeperLucy Maud Montgomery
especially : one who keeps house in a specified way
was always a good/poor housekeeper
… a tidy housekeeper who kept flowers outside his unit … Kyle Swenson

Synonyms of housekeeper

Examples of housekeeper in a Sentence

they hired a housekeeper to help their aging parents live at home
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 series, which ran for 196 episodes between 1984 and 1992, centers on Tony Danza’s Tony Micelli, who becomes the live-in housekeeper for the Bower family and brings along his daughter, Samantha (Alyssa Milano). Zack Sharf, Variety, 23 June 2026 The cast also includes Natasha Lyonne as an artificial friend (AF) store manager; Rachel House as the housekeeper, Melania; Aran Murphy (son of Cillian Murphy) as Josie’s best friend, Rick; and Sophia Bryant-Taukiri as Josie’s older sister, Sal. Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026 Her housekeeper, who is Ethiopian, sustained less-severe injuries in the attack, Khalil's relatives said. Jane Arraf, NPR, 21 June 2026 The 1980s domestic comedy helped put fairly progressive content — for its time — into prime time, as it was centered around a single dad and former pro baseball player (Danza) who takes a job as a live-in housekeeper for a powerful ad executive (Light). Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for housekeeper

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1528, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of housekeeper was circa 1528

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Cite this Entry

“Housekeeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/housekeeper. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

housekeeper

noun
house·​keep·​er ˈhau̇-ˌskē-pər How to pronounce housekeeper (audio)
: a person employed to take care of a house

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