housekeeper

noun

house·​keep·​er ˈhau̇s-ˌkē-pər 

1

: one employed to manage the domestic duties involved in maintaining a house

2

: a member of a household who manages the domestic duties of the household

She was her father's housekeeper …

—Lucy Maud Montgomery

especially : one who keeps house in a specified way

was always a good/poor housekeeper

… a tidy housekeeper who kept flowers outside his unit …

—Kyle Swenson

Synonyms

• biddy
• char [British]
• charwoman
• handmaiden
• handmaid
• house girl
• housemaid
• maid
• maidservant
• skivvy [British]
• wench [old-fashioned]

Examples of housekeeper in a Sentence

they hired a housekeeper to help their aging parents live at home

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, practically everything moves in slow motion — including ominous cutbacks to a giant CG hourglass — as Tykwer introduces the Engels and their immigrant housekeeper Alia (Joyce Abu-Zeid). —Peter Debruge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025

When a mysterious, Syrian housekeeper enters their lives, the family’s secrets and emotions are brought to light, while the housekeeper’s hidden agenda threatens to reshape their world forever. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025

Their life is disrupted, and given new meaning, when a new housekeeper, the Syrian immigrant Farrah (Tala Al-Deen), enters their lives. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Feb. 2025

This situation also touches on what is and isn't acceptable to expect from housekeepers. —Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1528, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

housekeeper

noun

house·​keep·​er ˈhau̇-ˌskē-pər 

: a person employed to take care of a house