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; house, wife

Example Sentences

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

"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

Fatema Begum, a 40-year-old housewife, said she wanted a Bangladesh where people could "live independently and speak freely".

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 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

She kept the religious traditions of a Jewish housewife and was loyal to her husband, but Tateh had absolutely no love for her.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride

Related Words

• homemaker