washerwoman

noun

wash·​er·​wom·​an ˈwȯ-shər-ˌwu̇-mən 

ˈwä-

: a woman whose occupation is washing clothes : laundress

Examples of washerwoman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Shown is her statue. Osceola McCarty House Museum In Hattiesburg, Miss., Osceola McCarty House Museum is named for and honors a local washerwoman who saved $150,000 over the course of her lifetime to set up a scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi. —Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 10 Jan. 2026

This moving exhibition spotlights the largely untold stories of Miami's early Black washerwomen—women whose labor shaped the city's domestic and economic foundations. —Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025

His reason: Why should a butcher pay money to a washerwoman? After Hulett spoke just 10 minutes at the start of the case and another 15 minutes during closing arguments, the jury of six men disappeared for just two minutes before returning with a verdict for the washerwoman. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025

Centuries later, French washerwomen — lavandières — spread their sheets over lavender bushes to bleach, dry and scent them. —Lee Somerville, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for washerwoman

• businesswoman
• congresswoman
• englishwoman
• gentlewoman
• noblewoman
• policewoman
• chairwoman
• frenchwoman
• kinswoman
• madwoman
• saleswoman
• spokeswoman

Kids Definition

washerwoman

noun

wash·​er·​wom·​an ˈwȯsh-ər-ˌwu̇m-ən 

ˈwäsh-

: a woman who takes in washing