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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

housekeeper

HOWS-kee-puh

Housekeeper (noun) means someone employed to manage the cleaning and upkeep of a home, hotel, or institution. Example: “The housekeeper had the whole hotel wing spotless by nine.”

noun
1
Someone employed to manage the cleaning and upkeep of a home, hotel, or institution.
"The housekeeper had the whole hotel wing spotless by nine."
"They hired a housekeeper after the twins were born."
2
Someone who rarely leaves home; a homebody.
"He's become a bit of a housekeeper since retiring."

How to use housekeeper

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone paid to clean and manage a household, or informally, someone who prefers staying home.

Common pairings
hire a housekeeper live-in housekeeper

Word forms

housekeepers plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ had the whole hotel wing spotless by nine.

Etymology

From house + keeper.

Rhymes for housekeeper

See all rhymes for housekeeper →

Frequently asked questions

What does “housekeeper” mean?

The word “housekeeper” means someone employed to manage the cleaning and upkeep of a home, hotel, or institution. In plain terms, someone paid to clean and manage a household, or informally, someone who prefers staying home.

How do you pronounce “housekeeper”?

“Housekeeper” is pronounced HOWS-kee-puh (/ˈhaʊskipɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “housekeeper” in a sentence?

Here is “housekeeper” used in a sentence: “The housekeeper had the whole hotel wing spotless by nine.”

What part of speech is “housekeeper”?

“Housekeeper” is a noun.

Is “housekeeper” a common word?

“Housekeeper” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “housekeeper” have?

“Housekeeper” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone employed to manage the cleaning and upkeep of a home, hotel, or institution.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial