breadwinner

American

[bred-win-er] / ˈbrɛdˌwɪn ər /

noun

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

breadwinner British

/ ˈbrɛdˌwɪnə /

noun

a person supporting a family with his or her earnings

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

breadwinning

noun

Etymology

Origin of breadwinner

First recorded in 1810–20; bread + winner

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He’s also a breadwinner again for his family.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

In modern America, high-income households are powered not by a single breadwinner, but by two sustained professional careers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

As the breadwinner for her family, Modica said the stress of student debt never goes away.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

"As they are the main breadwinner of their families, they have a lot of influence," said Ganesh Gurung, chief of Nepal's Policy Research Institute.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Now, she’s too busy getting herself ready—she’s had to become the full-time breadwinner.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023