breadwinner
B2Neutral, slightly formal in everyday contexts. Common in journalism, legal, and economic discussions.
Definition
Meaning
The person in a family who earns the money to support the others.
The primary or sole earner of income within a household, family unit, or sometimes a relationship. It can also refer to the main source of income for a business or project.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a compound noun that arose from the metaphor of 'winning' or earning the 'bread' (a traditional staple food, hence money for sustenance). It is almost exclusively used for people, not inanimate objects. Traditionally gendered (male), but modern usage is gender-neutral.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. The term is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral, though can carry connotations of pressure, responsibility, or traditional family roles.
Frequency
Equal frequency. The concept is universal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[person/family member] is the breadwinner[person] became the breadwinner after [event]to rely on [person] as the breadwinnerVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to wear the trousers (related, but not identical)”
- “to bring home the bacon (verb phrase with similar meaning)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In HR or economic reports discussing household income, dual-income vs. single-breadwinner families.
Academic
Used in sociology, economics, and gender studies when analysing family structures and labour markets.
Everyday
Common in conversations about family, jobs, and financial responsibility.
Technical
Used in legal contexts (e.g., insurance, compensation for loss of a breadwinner).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable. The word is a noun.
American English
- Not applicable. The word is a noun.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. No standard adverbial form.
American English
- Not applicable. No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The breadwinner parent often feels significant pressure.
- They discussed the breadwinner model of the 1950s.
American English
- She took on the breadwinner role after her husband was laid off.
- Breadwinner status can shift over time.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My father is the breadwinner in our family.
- When her husband lost his job, she became the sole breadwinner.
- In many families today, both parents are breadwinners.
- The new policy aims to support families where the primary breadwinner is suddenly unable to work.
- Becoming the breadwinner at a young age forced him to mature quickly.
- The shift from a single-breadwinner model to a dual-earner household has profound implications for gender dynamics and childcare.
- The court calculated compensation based on the deceased's projected earnings as the family's main breadwinner.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a medieval knight in a contest, WINNING a loaf of BREAD to bring home to his hungry family. The knight is the BREAD-WINNER.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS FOOD (bread) / EARNING A LIVING IS A CONTEST (winning).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'хлебный победитель'. Use 'кормилец' (most direct), 'добытчик' (slightly informal), or 'основной кормилец семьи'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He breadwins for the family' is incorrect). Using it to refer to a child who earns a little money. Confusing it with 'homemaker'.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'breadwinner' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. While historically associated with men, the term is completely gender-neutral in modern English.
It is neutral. It is appropriate in both casual conversation and formal writing (e.g., legal documents, academic papers).
'Breadwinner' specifically focuses on earning money. 'Provider' is broader and can include non-financial support (care, shelter, emotional support).
No. 'Breadwinner' is only a noun. To describe the action, you would say 'earn the money', 'support the family', or 'be the breadwinner'.