noun
Uncommon
caregiver
KEH-uh-gih-vuh
Caregiver (noun) means a person who looks after someone who is ill, elderly, or unable to care for themselves. Example: “His daughter became his full-time caregiver after the stroke.”
noun
1
A person who looks after someone who is ill, elderly, or unable to care for themselves.
"Taking care of an elderly parent or seriously ill spouse or family member can be physically and emotionally draining — and expensive for the caregiver in more ways than one."
— Jeanne Sahadi, How companies can ease the strain on employees taking care of elderly parents or ill family members (2024)
"The coronavirus has turned caregivers around the world into homeschoolers."
— Matt Villano, How ‘regular school’ parents can homeschool their kids (2020)
"His daughter became his full-time caregiver after the stroke."
"Caregivers often need support too, not just the people they care for."
"‘Caregivers in this role can suffer as much as the patients. It can be very stressful.’"
— Avni Doshi, Burnt Sugar (2020)
How to use caregiver
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone, often a family member or professional, who takes on the daily responsibility of looking after another person.
Common pairings
family caregiver
primary caregiver
caregiver burnout
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like caregiver.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- caregivers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His daughter became his full-time _____ after the stroke.
Etymology
From care + giver — literally "one who gives care."
Synonyms
View more →
PCP
health professional
health care provider
primary care provider
Rhymes for caregiver
See all rhymes for caregiver →Frequently asked questions
What does “caregiver” mean?
The word “caregiver” means a person who looks after someone who is ill, elderly, or unable to care for themselves. In plain terms, someone, often a family member or professional, who takes on the daily responsibility of looking after another person.
How do you pronounce “caregiver”?
“Caregiver” is pronounced KEH-uh-gih-vuh (/ˈkɛɹɡɪvɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “caregiver” in a sentence?
Here is “caregiver” used in a sentence: “His daughter became his full-time caregiver after the stroke.”
What part of speech is “caregiver”?
“Caregiver” is a noun.
Is “caregiver” a common word?
“Caregiver” is an uncommon word in modern English.
