caregiver
Americannoun
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a person who cares for someone who is sick or disabled.
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an adult who cares for an infant or child.
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fernandez said his daughter has special needs and her mother had to give up her career to become a full-time caregiver.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
“I voted for Tom. I was looking for a change,” said Alvenia Scott, a union board member who works as an in-home caregiver to her disabled sister.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
Nebraska passed a caregiver tax credit in 2024, and about a dozen other states are working on similar measures, including Ohio, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and Vermont.
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
They point to studies suggesting a strong caregiver placebo effect, with the only real change being the owner’s perception of their pet’s condition.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
It was awkward to require Social Security numbers from any parent or caregiver who was going to drive a kid over to our house to play.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
