breadwinner

[bred-win-er]

noun

1. a person who earns a livelihood, especially one who also supports dependents.

breadwinner

/ ˈbrɛdˌwɪnə /

noun

1. a person supporting a family with his or her earnings

Other Word Forms

• breadwinning noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of breadwinner¹

First recorded in 1810–20; bread + winner

Example Sentences

It was an era where men were the primary breadwinners in most households.

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Have your ideas on what it means to be a breadwinner changed at all?

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My wife is now the breadwinner and earns about $90,000 a year between salary and bonuses.

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I drank to ease the pressure I felt as a family breadwinner, and to muffle my anxieties about my future.

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Though Allison works for the state, her husband is the primary breadwinner.

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