Synonyms

housemother

American

[hous-muhth-er] / ˈhaʊsˌmʌð ər /

noun

a woman in charge of a residence, especially for children, students, or young women, who acts as hostess, chaperon, and occasionally as housekeeper.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

housemotherly

adjective

Etymology

Origin of housemother

First recorded in 1830–40; house + mother ¹

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.

Before long, a housemother at the school was punishing them for it.

From Washington Post • Jun. 16, 2021

The late Charlotte Rae, who played housemother Edna Garrett, passed away in 2018 at age 92.

From Fox News • Apr. 9, 2019

My housemother found out the term of endearment "moostace"...

From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2016

Sagar Nepali, a sturdy, 11-year-old boy with warm, determined black eyes, wearing a dirt-stained black hooded sweatshirt, is playing with a packet of temporary tattoos given to him and his friends by their housemother.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2015

A housemother appeared, waiting to take me inside and nodding that my escort could be on his way.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023