housewife

American  

[hous-wahyf, huhz-if] / ˈhaʊsˌwaɪf, ˈhʌz ɪf /

noun

housewives plural

1. Sometimes Offensive. a married woman who manages her own household, especially as her principal occupation.

2. British. a sewing box; a small case or box for needles, thread, etc.

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verb (used with or without object)

housewifed, housewifing

1. Archaic. to manage with efficiency and economy, as a household.

housewife British  

/ ˈhaʊsˌwɪfərɪ, -ˌwɪfrɪ, ˈhaʊsˌwaɪf /

noun

1. a woman, typically a married woman, who keeps house, usually without having paid employment

2. Also called: hussy.   huswife.  a small sewing kit issued to soldiers

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Sensitive Note

Most people, married or unmarried, find the term housewife perfectly acceptable. But it is sometimes perceived as insulting, perhaps because it implies a lowly status (“She’s just a housewife”) or because it defines an occupation in terms of a woman's relation to a man. Homemaker is a fairly common substitute.

Other Word Forms

• housewifery
  noun

Etymology

Origin of housewife

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English hus(e)wif; see origin at house, wife

Example Sentences

“In one, I go from a mousy housewife to a road warrior, and the other I go from a cookie-making mom to an assassin,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

She was the quintessential housewife — from how she looked to what she did on a day-to-day basis, taking care of the home and her family.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Indians like housewife Kriti Prasad have been found themselves desperately hunting for cooking gas as supplies dwindle.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

"We're living like that now, we're exactly like that", says housewife Lisandra outside her home in Havana, which is cobbled together with pieces of sheet metal and wood.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

I turn and smile desperately at the still-gawking housewife.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Related Words

• homemaker