housewife

noun

house·​wife ˈhau̇s-ˌwīf 

especially in sense 2 and in early poetry

ˈhə-zəf 

or -səf

plural housewives ˈhau̇s-ˌwīvz 

also

ˈhau̇z-ˌwīvz 

ˈhə-zəfs, 

-zəvz, 

-səfs, 

-səvz

1

: a married woman in charge of a household

2

: a pocket-size container for small articles (such as thread)

housewifeliness

ˈhau̇s-ˌwīf-lē-nəs 

noun

housewifely

ˈhau̇s-ˌwīf-lē 

adjective

housewifery

ˈhau̇s-ˌwī-f(ə-)rē 

British -(ˌ)wi-f(ə-)rē

also ˈhə-zə-frē

noun

housewifey

ˈhau̇s-ˌwī-fē 

adjective

Examples of housewife in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Along with Cold War Choir Practice, this is her second cult-captive housewife in less than a year. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Airing for eight seasons between 1964 and 1972, the fantastical series followed the daily adventures of a powerful witch who attempted to live as a typical suburban housewife alongside her mortal husband. — Justine Fisher, PEOPLE, 12 Oct. 2026

Starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, the 1977 classic follows an encounter between a housewife and a gay man in Fascist Rome on the day of Hitler’s visit to Mussolini. — Lise Pedersen, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

The Netflix series from Rebecca Cutter starring Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow, who lead a cutthroat yet soapy set of Texas housewives, has nabbed a season three renewal ahead of season two’s return. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for housewife

• afterlife
• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• jackknife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife
• knife

Kids Definition

housewife

noun

house·​wife ˈhau̇-ˌswīf 

sense 2 is often

ˈhəz-əf 

ˈhəs-əf

1

: a married woman who manages her own home

2

: a small container for small articles (as thread)

housewifeliness

ˈhau̇-ˌswī-flē-nəs 

noun

housewifely

-flē 

adjective

housewifery

ˈhau̇-ˌswī-fə-rē 

-frē

noun