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

Conservatives argued that the E.R.A. would expose women to a military draft and pressure housewives into the work force. —Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Season 8 saw tension between her and fellow housewives Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon, which appears unlikely to be resolved during the reunion on March 31. —Eva Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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