B2nounhomesociety
US/ˈhaʊs.waɪf/
UK/ˈhaʊs.waɪf/
a married woman who stays at home to look after the house and family instead of doing paid work
In context
My aunt was a housewife for twenty years before she went back to work.
The ad is aimed at busy housewives who shop for the whole family.
Being a housewife is real work, even if nobody pays you for it.
Words that go with housewife
verb + noun
- become a housewifeShe became a housewife after her second child was born.
adjective + noun
- full-time housewifeMy mother was a full-time housewife.
- ordinary housewifeThe ordinary housewife in the survey spent half her budget on food.
- suburban housewifeThe TV drama follows a suburban housewife who starts her own business.
- young housewifeA young housewife wrote to the newspaper about the problem.
noun + noun
- housewife and motherShe described herself as a housewife and mother.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
My father is a housewife.Correct: My father is a stay-at-home dad.