housewife

American  

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

noun

plural

housewives

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

I was born in Peru, having come over to America very small, 3 years old — there was no example of a stay-at-home mom or a housewife living a life of luxury like that.

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

This domestic sitcom, starring Lucille Ball as a frustrated housewife and Ball’s then-husband Desi Arnaz as her patient bandleader husband, is the most influential show in TV history, and it isn’t close.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

“The Housemaid” would be enjoyable enough had Seyfried only been giving a layered performance as a mentally ill housewife.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

The housewife who sat across the kitchen table from Harriet, listening, felt as though she were traveling, too, and so was reluctant to let her go on to her next stop.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Related Words

• homemaker