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

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

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

In “The Hunting Wives,” Brittany Snow stars as Sophie O’Neil, an ex-Bostonian housewife who gets pulled into the world of Malin Akerman’s socialite ringleader Margo Banks.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026

“Brother Fowles, I have no earthly notion. I am a housewife from Georgia.”

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• homemaker