housewife Definition
a married woman whose main occupation is caring for her family, managing household affairs, and doing housework.
Using housewife: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "housewife" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She decided to become a housewife after having children.
Example
My grandmother was a housewife all her life.
Example
Being a housewife is a full-time job.
Example
Many women today choose to be both a housewife and a career woman.
housewife Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for housewife
- homemaker
- stay-at-home mom
- domestic engineer
Antonyms for housewife
- breadwinner
- career woman
Idioms Using housewife
Example
She's excited to announce that she has a bun in the oven and will soon be a housewife.
Example
Although he's the breadwinner, everyone knows that his wife wears the pants in the family and makes all the important decisions.
Example
He works hard every day to put food on the table for his wife and children.
Phrases with housewife
Example
The TV show 'Desperate Housewives' portrayed the lives of several desperate housewives in a suburban neighborhood.
a woman who is attractive and married to a wealthy man, but does not work outside the home
Example
She was often referred to as a trophy housewife because of her good looks and her husband's wealth.
supermom
a mother who successfully manages a career and family life
Example
She's a supermom who works full-time and still manages to take care of her kids and home.
Origins of housewife
from 'house' + 'wife'
Summary: housewife in Brief
A 'housewife' [ˈhaʊsˌwaɪf] is a married woman whose primary occupation is caring for her family, managing household affairs, and doing housework. It is a full-time job that many women choose to do after having children. The term extends into phrases like 'desperate housewife,' 'trophy housewife,' and idioms like 'have a bun in the oven,' denoting pregnancy, and 'wear the pants in the family,' implying dominance.
