a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income
"After my husband returns from his job each evening, I take over as the housewife and prepare dinner for us."
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.
"After retiring from her corporate job, Sarah embraced the role of housewife by dedicating her days entirely to cooking meals and managing their family budget."
In plain English: A housewife is a woman who manages her home and takes care of her family instead of working outside for money.
"The housewife spent her afternoon baking cookies for the neighbors."
Usage: Use this term only when referring specifically to women who manage their households as unpaid work within traditional family structures. Avoid using it in modern contexts where "homemaker" is preferred for its gender-neutral tone or broader applicability.
Alternative form of housewive
"The old dictionary entry lists "housewife" as an alternative form of "housewive.""
In plain English: There is no verb form for housewife because it is only used as a noun to describe someone who manages their home and family.
"The housewife cleaned and cooked for her family every day."
The word housewife comes from Middle English houswyf, a combination of "house" and "wife." It entered modern usage as the standard term for a woman who manages her home, replacing an older related word that had acquired negative connotations over time.