housewife

noun

house·​wife ˈhau̇s-ˌwīf 

especially in sense 2 and in early poetry

ˈhə-zəf 

 or  -səf

plural housewives ˈhau̇s-ˌwīvz 

also

ˈhau̇z-ˌwīvz 

ˈhə-zəfs,

-zəvz,

-səfs,

-səvz

1

: a married woman in charge of a household

2

: a pocket-size container for small articles (such as thread)

housewifeliness

ˈhau̇s-ˌwīf-lē-nəs 

noun

housewifely

ˈhau̇s-ˌwīf-lē 

adjective

housewifery

ˈhau̇s-ˌwī-f(ə-)rē 

 British  -(ˌ)wi-f(ə-)rē

 also  ˈhə-zə-frē

noun

housewifey

ˈhau̇s-ˌwī-fē 

adjective

Examples of housewife in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Airing for eight seasons between 1964 and 1972, the fantastical series followed the daily adventures of a powerful witch who attempts to live as a typical suburban housewife and marry a mortal man. —Kate Hogan, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025

Nell is now a boho housewife who sells chutney at a farmers’ market, and her presence awakens old differences, emotional and professional. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2025

Don’t come for the housewives, and don’t come to Parvati Shallow with just any old reality TV offer. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2025

The lead, a mild-mannered housewife and mother of five (well-deserved lead actress nominee Fernanda Torres), looks fragile but uses her particular set of skills — dignity, warmth, presentation — to strike back in ways the dictatorship doesn’t know how to parry. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

housewife

noun

house·​wife ˈhau̇-ˌswīf 

sense 2 is often

ˈhəz-əf 

ˈhəs-əf

1

: a married woman who manages her own home

2

: a small container for small articles (as thread)

housewifeliness

ˈhau̇-ˌswī-flē-nəs 

noun

housewifely

-flē 

adjective

housewifery

ˈhau̇-ˌswī-fə-rē 

-frē

noun