caretaker

American  

[kair-tey-ker] / ˈkɛərˌteɪ kər /

noun

caretakers plural

1. a person who is in charge of the maintenance of a building, estate, etc.; superintendent.

2. a person or group that temporarily performs the duties of an office.

3. British. a janitor.

4. a person who takes care of another.

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adjective

1. involving the temporary performance of the duties of an office.

   a caretaker government.

caretaker British  

/ ˈkɛəˌteɪkə /

noun

1. a person who is in charge of a place or thing, esp in the owner's absence

   the caretaker of a school

2. (modifier) holding office temporarily; interim

   a caretaker government

3. social welfare a person who takes care of a vulnerable person, often a close relative See also carer

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• caretaking
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• caretakers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of caretaker

First recorded in 1855–60; care + take ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

When you work as a caretaker, you look after a house or a piece of property. The caretaker of a grand old estate might live in a small cottage on its grounds. A caretaker might make small repairs to a house, weed a property's flower gardens, or mow the lawn. Some caretakers live in the house they care for, often during an off season when its main inhabitants don't stay there. You can also use the word to mean "caregiver," a person who takes care of someone who's elderly or ill, or to refer to someone who looks after animals.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

caretaker caretakers

A woman wrote to the caretaker of a collapsed apartment building in Caraballeda, one of the worst-hit areas, about 40 kilometers from Caracas, to say she was still alive, volunteer rescuer Daniel Pino told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

If a child isn’t acting exactly how a parent or caretaker would prefer at any moment, is that the barrier where our love for them ceases, even momentarily?

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026

It was a huge relief to see my old building, the Alheli, still intact and its genial caretaker, Pedro, still outside chatting to elderly residents on the porch.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

Older adults and people with disabilities face unique challenges making and maintaining strong social connections, including diminished mobility, limited access to transportation, and often, the loss of a loved one or caretaker, Murphy said.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 19, 2026

TIP TWELVE: If you must leave your hamster with a caretaker, make sure that it is someone you know and trust.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

Because of outstanding leases, third-party caretakers were getting one final season to manage 3,500-odd acres, “through 2026,” added Kiernan, in the announcement.

From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026

For years, scientists believed astrocytes mainly acted as caretakers, helping hold neurons together and keeping brain circuits running smoothly.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 4, 2026

At one point, they were kicked out of the Austrian refugee program and became homeless until a Catholic priest took them in and made them caretakers of a medieval church.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2026

His vision relies on Tesla selling Optimus for industrial purposes, such as working on assembly lines, as well as to the general public for use as caretakers, teachers and even security guards.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 22, 2026

He looked so serious when he said it, “We are the earth’s caretakers, Ida B,” staring off into the sky, wiping his brow, and nodding.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan

Related Words

• curator
• custodian
• janitor
• keeper
• sitter
• superintendent
• supervisor
• warden