breadwinner

[ bred-win-er ]

noun

1. a person who earns a livelihood, especially one who also supports dependents.

breadwinner

/ ˈbrɛdˌwɪnə /

noun

1. a person supporting a family with his or her earnings

Derived Forms

• ˈbreadˌwinning, nounadjective

Other Words From

• breadwinning noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of breadwinner¹

First recorded in 1810–20; bread + winner

Example Sentences

The 25-year-old widow, who had depended on her husband as the breadwinner, now has three young children to care for.

From BBC

She talked about how her son, who started his career running barefoot, had worked hard to become an international runner and the family’s breadwinner, the Nation newspaper reports.

From BBC

Janine, a professor, was the breadwinner in her family—voluntarily—as her former husband went to grad school and spent a decade writing a screenplay.

From Salon

When I was younger, it felt natural to prioritize him and his needs as the breadwinner.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of them lived separately like Chris’ parents, with the breadwinner father sending money and visiting yearly from South Korea or Taiwan.

From Salon