househusband: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumNeutral, Modern, Informal
Quick answer
What does “househusband” mean?
A man who manages a household and cares for his family, typically instead of having a job outside the home.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man who manages a household and cares for his family, typically instead of having a job outside the home.
A married man or domestic partner whose primary occupation is running the home and undertaking domestic duties such as cleaning, cooking, childcare, and household administration, often while his partner is the primary income earner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and concept are identical in both variants, but it is more common in journalistic and sociological contexts than in everyday conversation.
Connotations
Slightly more established and less novel-sounding in contemporary BrE; in AmE, it may still sound like a deliberate, modern coinage.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects, appearing primarily in lifestyle articles, discussions of gender roles, and pop culture.
Grammar
How to Use “househusband” in a Sentence
[be/become] a househusband[adjective] househusbandVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “househusband” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to househusband for a few years while his wife pursued her career.
- After the redundancy, he began househusbanding full-time.
American English
- He's been househusbanding since their twins were born.
- Not many men choose to househusband in their 30s.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used) He managed the home househusbandly, with great efficiency.
American English
- (Rarely used) He approached the chores quite househusbandly.
adjective
British English
- He has embraced a househusband lifestyle.
- Their househusband father is a fantastic cook.
American English
- She appreciates her househusband spouse.
- The househusband duties were more challenging than he expected.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in HR discussions about family leave policies.
Academic
Used in sociology, gender studies, and family law contexts.
Everyday
Used in personal conversations about family arrangements and lifestyle.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “househusband”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “househusband”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “househusband”
- Misspelling as 'house husband' (two words is less common).
- Using it for a man who simply helps at home while working full-time.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as one solid compound word (househusband), though the hyphenated form 'house-husband' is also occasionally seen.
The direct traditional equivalent is 'housewife.' A more modern, gender-neutral term for both is 'homemaker' or 'stay-at-home parent.'
Yes, though it is informal and less common. It means to act as or perform the duties of a househusband (e.g., 'He househusbands full-time').
No, it is generally a neutral descriptive term. However, like 'housewife,' its acceptability depends on context and individual preference. Some may prefer 'stay-at-home dad' or 'homemaker.'
A man who manages a household and cares for his family, typically instead of having a job outside the home.
Househusband is usually neutral, modern, informal in register.
Househusband: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊsˌhʌzbənd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊsˌhʌzbənd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mr. Mom (AmE informal, from film title)”
- “wearing the apron”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A 'husband' who runs the 'house.' He is married to the home duties.
Conceptual Metaphor
GENDER-ROLE REVERSAL (The man occupies the traditional woman's domain).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'househusband' in a neutral register?