housewife

Meaning

Noun

1. A woman whose main employment is homemaking, maintaining the upkeep of her home and tending to household affairs; often, such a woman whose sole [unpaid] employment is homemaking.
2. The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household.
3. A little case or bag for materials used in sewing, and for other articles of female work.
4. (obsolete) A worthless woman; a hussy.

Verb

Alternative form of housewive.

Synonyms

homemaker

housekeeper

mistress

househusband

lady of the house

landlady

woman of the house

hussy

economical housewife

work-bag

housemother

lady

wife

👰‍♀️

woman

👩

mistress of a house

mistress of the house

lady of a house

Translations

casalinga

Hausfrau

huisvrouw

femme au foyer

ama de casa

νοικοκυρά

massaia

ménagère

dona de casa

vrouw des huizes

maîtresse de maison

dona-de-casa

padrona di casa

mestressa de casa

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhaʊs.waɪf/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: houswyf

Cognate with German: Hausweib

In summary

From Middle English houswyf, housewif, huswijf, equivalent to house + wife; a doublet of hussy, which it was long distinguished from and displaced due to gradual negative connotation (see Online Etymology Dictionary entry). Cognate with German Hausweib.