caretaker

American  

[kair-tay-ker] / ˈkɛərˌteɪ kər /

noun

• caretakers
  plural

1. a person who is in charge of the maintenance of a building, estate, etc.; superintendent.

2. a person or group that temporarily performs the duties of an office.

3. British. a janitor.

4. a person who takes care of another.

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adjective

1. involving the temporary performance of the duties of an office.

   a caretaker government.

caretaker British  

/ ˈkɛəˌteɪkə /

noun

1. a person who is in charge of a place or thing, esp in the owner's absence

   the caretaker of a school

2. (modifier) holding office temporarily; interim

   a caretaker government

3. social welfare a person who takes care of a vulnerable person, often a close relative See also carer

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• caretaking
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• caretakers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of caretaker

First recorded in 1855–60; care + take ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

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Explanation

When you work as a caretaker, you look after a house or a piece of property. The caretaker of a grand old estate might live in a small cottage on its grounds. A caretaker might make small repairs to a house, weed a property's flower gardens, or mow the lawn. Some caretakers live in the house they care for, often during an off season when its main inhabitants don't stay there. You can also use the word to mean "caregiver," a person who takes care of someone who's elderly or ill, or to refer to someone who looks after animals.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

caretaker caretakers

The family was flying with the children’s caretaker, Anita Maria Cetina, and friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, according to a joint statement from the families.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

She speaks mainly Spanish and is the primary caretaker for her husband, Nemorio, who is blind.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

A caretaker cleans the greens of sheep manure, but he seemed to have been on vacation for months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

Haskins’ friend and longtime caretaker, Kimberly Snow, confirmed the actor’s Sept. 27 death and told The Times that Haskins had quietly battled Parkinson’s disease and was candid about other health issues.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

It’s very easy to fall in love with a baby skunk, but it’s difficult to truly be a good caretaker to a skunk.

From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold

In 1976, Ms. magazine found her living on the road, having not changed clothes in three days, her children scattered through the state with various caretakers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

When a seal like Violet won’t eat on its own, caretakers use a tube to feed it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

This sophisticated network is what can get the goods you order to your doorstop in hours, and it provides flexibility for workers who have irregular schedules such as college students and home caretakers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

They become caretakers and give up work early, losing years of potential income.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

I see now why all those other caretakers left.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn

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Related Words

• curator
• custodian
• janitor
• keeper
• sitter
• superintendent
• supervisor
• warden

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