homemaker

American  

[hohm-mey-ker] / ˈhoʊmˌmeɪ kər /

noun

1. a person who manages the household of their own family, especially as a principal occupation.

2. a person employed to manage a household and do household chores for others, as for the sick or elderly.

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homemaker British  

/ ˈhəʊmˌmeɪkə /

noun

1. a person, esp a housewife, who manages a home

2. a social worker who manages a household during the incapacity of the housewife

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Sensitive Note

See housewife.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• homemaking
  noun

Etymology

Origin of homemaker

First recorded in 1885–90; home + maker

Example Sentences

Intan Permata, a 36-year-old homemaker and mother of three from neighbouring Banten province, agreed.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

Burden’s marriage began to settle into the traditional gender roles of homemaker and breadwinner, despite the fact that it was Burden who had financed their lifestyle.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

“Without electricity, there’s no running water either, and the little food that you stored is spoiling,” said Yaima Lara, a homemaker in the Guanabacoa suburb of Havana.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

"There would be famine and people would suffer a lot. People are suffering now, but at least with war, our fate might be clear," 60-year-old homemaker Tayebeh said.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

It’s one of those homemaker advice columns—someone called Mrs. Bardell describes tasty and nourishing dishes women can cook for their families in only five minutes.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin