caregiver

American  

[kair-giv-er] / ˈkɛərˌgɪv ər /

noun

1. a person who cares for someone who is sick or disabled.

2. an adult who cares for an infant or child.

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caregiver British  

/ ˈkɛəˌɡɪvə /

noun

1. Also called: carer.  a person who has accepted responsibility for looking after a vulnerable neighbour or relative

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Etymology

Origin of caregiver

First recorded in 1980–85; care + giver ( def. )

Explanation

Someone who takes care of a very young, elderly, or ill person is called a caregiver. If you make sure your ailing friend eats every day and is relatively comfortable, you are her caregiver. Being a caregiver is sometimes a paying job — a home health aid and a nurse in a hospital both work as caregivers. When a family member is ill, you may become a temporary caregiver, bringing hot soup and warm blankets. In Britain, this person is called a carer. Both words come from the Old English carian, "to feel concern" and also "to grieve."

Example Sentences

That was the kind of caregiver her mother was: someone who understood what quality care meant because she had spent her life giving it to others.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

“I wrote late at night because when I was working, I was also a primary caregiver for my mother.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

"Children are sponges and they learn best from face-to-face time with a key caregiver - a parent, a teacher."

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

A nonmedical caregiver — who provides assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and feeding — costs a median rate of $80,080 a year, according to a 2025 CareScout report.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Though the cubs grow to become larger than their caregiver, and far more dangerous, they never give their mother trouble and she never loses her placid behaviour or her sense of authority over her litter.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Related Words

• au pair
• caretaker
• custodian
• nanny
• nurse