housewife

noun

house·​wife ˈhau̇s-ˌwīf How to pronounce housewife (audio)
especially in sense 2 and in early poetry
ˈhə-zəf How to pronounce housewife (audio)
or -səf
plural housewives ˈhau̇s-ˌwīvz How to pronounce housewife (audio)
also
ˈhau̇z-ˌwīvz How to pronounce housewife (audio)
ˈhə-zəfs, 
-zəvz, 
-səfs, 
-səvz
Synonyms of housewifenext
1
: a married woman in charge of a household
2
: a pocket-size container for small articles (such as thread)
housewifeliness
ˈhau̇s-ˌwīf-lē-nəs How to pronounce housewife (audio)
noun
housewifely
ˈhau̇s-ˌwīf-lē How to pronounce housewife (audio)
adjective
housewifery
ˈhau̇s-ˌwī-f(ə-)rē How to pronounce housewife (audio)
British -(ˌ)wi-f(ə-)rē
also ˈhə-zə-frē
noun
housewifey
ˈhau̇s-ˌwī-fē How to pronounce housewife (audio)
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.
Cooke samples an absorbing range of hoaxes, from the college students who convinced the world that an imaginary Scotsman had invented the electric toaster to the Chinese housewife who fabricated an entire war out of boredom. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026 Along with Cold War Choir Practice, this is her second cult-captive housewife in less than a year. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 Airing for eight seasons between 1964 and 1972, the fantastical series followed the daily adventures of a powerful witch who attempted to live as a typical suburban housewife alongside her mortal husband. — Justine Fisher, PEOPLE, 12 Oct. 2026 Starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, the 1977 classic follows an encounter between a housewife and a gay man in Fascist Rome on the day of Hitler’s visit to Mussolini. — Lise Pedersen, Variety, 11 Oct. 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

Rhymes for housewife

See All Rhymes for housewife

Browse Nearby Words

housewarming
housewife
housewifeliness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Housewife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/housewife. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

housewife

noun
house·​wife ˈhau̇-ˌswīf How to pronounce housewife (audio)
sense 2 is often
ˈhəz-əf How to pronounce housewife (audio)
ˈhəs-əf
1
: a married woman who manages her own home
2
: a small container for small articles (as thread)
housewifeliness
ˈhau̇-ˌswī-flē-nəs How to pronounce housewife (audio)
noun
housewifely
-flē How to pronounce housewife (audio)
adjective
housewifery
ˈhau̇-ˌswī-fə-rē How to pronounce housewife (audio)
-frē
noun

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