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

• custodian
• guardian
• janitor
• keeper
• warden
• watchman

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

Palestinians don’t want to be seen as caretakers — or worse, collaborators — working under Israel’s occupation, with little real power. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 6 June 2024

His family remembers him as a gentle caretaker who was good with babies and with the various animals at his home, including dogs, cats and fowl. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2024

But facing a growing threat of wildfires, national park caretakers are increasingly turning to loggers to create fire guards: buffers to stop forest fires from advancing into the rest of the park and nearby towns. —Norimitsu Onishi, New York Times, 29 May 2024

Americans of all ages become caretakers, of course, and one in five adults currently provides uncompensated care to a loved one. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 28 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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