housefather

American  

[hous-fah-ther] / ˈhaʊsˌfɑ ðər /

noun

1. a man responsible for a group of young people, as students, living in a dormitory, hostel, etc.

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housefather British  

/ ˈhaʊsˌfɑːðə /

noun

1. a man in charge of the welfare of a particular group of children in an institution such as a children's home or approved school

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Other Word Forms

• housemother
  noun

Etymology

Origin of housefather

1545–55; house + father; compare Latin paterfamilias

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

housefather

Keith Figes was a "housefather" at Berrow Wood School in Worcestershire and supposed to look after children with behavioural difficulties.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2023

A staff member notifies Dasani’s housefather, Jason McQuiddy, who walks up the hill to where the bus is parked.

From New York Times ● Sep. 28, 2021

Dasani’s housefather tries to soften the landing by making his homiest dish — lasagna.

From New York Times ● Sep. 28, 2021

Paul Diment, is a housefather at the school, in charge of one of the houses which are designed to feel more like home than school.

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2012

He was a simple man who went about in the public parks with a red cotton umbrella under his arm, followed by a brood of children like any good housefather.

From The Story of Mankind by Van Loon, Hendrik Willem