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

During the hotel's Global Wellness Day, therapists give on-site massages to housekeepers and front-desk staff. —Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025

The lawsuit said Robinson harassed and assaulted his former housekeepers who worked at his Chatsworth home between 2006 and 2024. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025

The original lawsuit was brought forth by a personal assistant and three former housekeepers for Robinson. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 29 May 2025

According to Robinson’s filing, one of the housekeepers deleted text exchanges and photos from a phone belonging to Robinson’s wife, Frances Robinson. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1528, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for housekeeper

• beekeeper
• bookkeeper
• doorkeeper
• gamekeeper
• gatekeeper
• goalkeeper
• innkeeper
• minesweeper
• peacekeeper
• shopkeeper
• storekeeper
• timekeeper

Kids Definition

housekeeper

noun

house·​keep·​er ˈhau̇-ˌskē-pər 

: a person employed to take care of a house