housekeeper

American  

[hous-kee-per] / ˈhaʊsˌki pər /

noun

1. a person, often hired, who does or directs the domestic work and planning necessary for a home, as cleaning or buying food.

2. an employee of a hotel, hospital, etc., who supervises the cleaning staff.

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housekeeper British  

/ ˈhaʊsˌkiːpə /

noun

1. a person, esp a woman, employed to run a household

2. a person who is not an efficient and thrifty domestic manager

3. a person who is an efficient and thrifty domestic manager

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Other Word Forms

• housekeeperlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of housekeeper

First recorded in 1375–1425, housekeeper is from the late Middle English word houskeper. See house, keeper

Example Sentences

A relative who hosts huge dinners for her extended family splurges the next day: hiring a housekeeper to come and going out to get a mani-pedi, 10-minute back and neck massage.

From Salon

Cano, a 52-year-old former housekeeper, had her operation for breast cancer almost a year after her November 2023 mammogram, when she was told all was fine if no response was received within 15 days.

From Barron's

But during a quiet aside, Minka ominously mentions to Liz that a chocolate cake made by the housekeeper tastes terrible, the observation sounding more like a warning than a culinary assessment.

From Los Angeles Times

Particularly memorable is a scene involving Nour, the Palestinian housekeeper of Jimmy’s Hebrew translator, who is himself a Holocaust survivor.

From The Wall Street Journal

The farmhouse, described as "small and intimate" by former housekeeper Teresa Thompson, has strong associations with Andrew's parents.

From BBC

Related Words

• caretaker
• chambermaid
• housemaid
• housewife
• maid
• servant