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carer

British  
/ ˈkɛərə /

noun

  1. Usual US and Canadian term: caregiversocial welfare a person who has accepted responsibility for looking after a vulnerable neighbour or relative See also caretaker

"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

Explanation

A carer is someone who tends to a patient or looks after a young child or elderly person. If your grandfather is very ill, he may need the help of a carer at home. A carer, also called a caregiver, is sometimes a paid helper whose job is caring for people, like a home health aide or a babysitter. Often family members act as carers, tending to elderly or ailing relatives. If your uncle helps your grandfather get into his wheelchair and take his medicine each day, he's a carer. This word is from care and its Old English root, which means both "feel concern" and "grieve."

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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.

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After a relationship breakdown Brad and Skyla moved in with his mother and became a full-time carer for both.

From BBC Jun. 26, 2026

“I am in despair,” said Shekhova, the dog carer.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 12, 2026

From 2004, she was the primary carer for her mother, who never learned English and towards the end of her life suffered from hallucinations and psychosis.

From BBC Jun. 9, 2026

A French toy spaniel named Lazare thought to have been "the world's oldest dog" has died aged 30, his carer said on Friday.

From Barron's May 15, 2026

We weren’t quite back to how it was when I’d first become his carer and all the Cottages stuff was still hanging over us.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

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