houseparent

[hous-pair-uhnt, -par-]

noun

1. one of a married couple responsible for a group of young people, as students, living in a dormitory, hostel, etc., sometimes acting solely as an advisor, but often serving as host or hostess, chaperon, housekeeper, etc.

2. a housemother or housefather.

Word History and Origins

Origin of houseparent¹

First recorded in 1950–55; house + parent

Example Sentences

Frank speaks his answers and the houseparent writes them down for him.

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Fies had been a houseparent at the Milton Hershey School, located about 13 miles east of Harrisburg.

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The salary for the houseparent job - $5,400 a year for each person - is a deal-breaker for many.

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Police say the girl reported the incident, which allegedly happened Friday, to another houseparent, prompting the school to contact police.

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Rule-breakers may lose their computers for a few hours, said Houseparent Marty Gilpatrick.

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