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

Synonyms of housewife

: a married woman in charge of a household

: 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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Standing in his boudoir the size of a one-bedroom apartment, Roth often looks half like Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games and half like a housewife in a Douglas Sirk film. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026 Denise has written a novel in secret, about a frustrated housewife itching to leave her husband and kids for a rich, fulfilling life in New York. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026 The police’s suspicions had begun after an officer questioned the housewife who worked in the pachinko parlor next door. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Or maybe that’s just how every housewife learned to make the classic dessert. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for housewife

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of housewife was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Housewife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/housewife. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

housewife

noun

house·wife ˈhau̇-ˌswīf

sense 2 is often

ˈhəz-əf

ˈhəs-əf

: a married woman who manages her own home

: a small container for small articles (as thread)

housewifeliness

ˈhau̇-ˌswī-flē-nəs

noun

housewifely

-flē

adjective

housewifery

ˈhau̇-ˌswī-fə-rē

-frē

noun

housewife

noun

Examples of housewife in a Sentence

Word History

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housewife

noun

Examples of housewife in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for housewife

Browse Nearby Words

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