Housewife

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈhaÊŠs.waɪf/

• IPA: /ˈhÊŒzɪf/

Origin

house + wife

Full definition of housewife

Noun

1. The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household.
2. A little case or bag for materials used in sewing, and for other articles of female work; – called also hussy.
• 1852: Tom Taylor and Charles Reade, Masks and Faces Act IIWoffington's housewife, made by herself, homely to the eye, but holds everything in the world

Related terms

• househusband

Hypernyms

• homemaker

Derived terms

• housewifely
• housewifery
• housewifization

Verb

1. Alternative form of housewive