caregiver
Americannoun
-
caregivers
plural
-
a person who cares for someone who is sick or disabled.
-
an adult who cares for an infant or child.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
“My brother is the other caregiver, and he’s a lot more sensitive. I’m just like, oh, no, you need me. I’m going to make sure you’re OK,” she said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
Emmanuel, the overnight caregiver, watches soccer on his laptop as David sleeps.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Martinez told legislators at a hearing this year how his wife had found a lump in her breast and asked for an appointment with her longtime caregiver at Kaiser to examine it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
Here’s the short version: Tradwives promote a traditional model of family life, prioritizing being a homemaker and a primary caregiver and supporting their husbands’ role as the primary breadwinner.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 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
Preventing muscle decline can help older adults remain independent while reducing the demands placed on caregivers and healthcare systems.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
For instance, the system uses recognizable sounds, known as auditory icons, to tell caregivers what the problem is, so they can distinguish it immediately.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
I helped organize their finances so I could pay their caregivers and monthly bills.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
Alvarez said many students are “working adults, parents, caregivers, and first-generation students who are rooted in their communities and cannot relocate or commute long distances to earn a degree.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
I mean, like in many cultures, men were viewed as warriors and women were viewed as caregivers.
From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
