housekeeper
B1Neutral formal; the job title is standard, but can sound dated or upper-class in some everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A person whose job is to manage the cleaning, cooking, and general running of a private house.
More broadly, a person or thing responsible for maintaining order, cleanliness, or organization in any establishment (e.g., hotel, institution). In computing, can refer to a utility that performs routine maintenance tasks.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically implied live-in domestic staff. In modern usage, it often refers to a paid professional who may work part-time. Distinct from 'cleaner' (focuses only on cleaning) or 'butler' (male, more formal service).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in definition. In the UK, 'housekeeper' might be more readily associated with larger estates or historical contexts. In the US, the term is commonly used for hotel staff managing room cleanliness.
Connotations
Both can carry connotations of wealth/privilege when referring to a private home. The US usage may have a slightly more neutral, professional connotation in the hospitality sector.
Frequency
Similar frequency; slightly more common in US English due to its established use in the hotel industry (e.g., 'executive housekeeper').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
housekeeper for [person/family]housekeeper at [place/hotel]housekeeper of [place]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Good housekeeper (archaic: a thrifty person, especially a woman)”
- “To keep house (the action, not the person)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In hospitality: 'The executive housekeeper oversees all room attendants.'
Academic
Rare; may appear in historical, sociological, or gender studies texts discussing domestic labour.
Everyday
'We have a housekeeper who comes every Tuesday to help with the deep cleaning.'
Technical
In computing: 'The software includes a memory housekeeper to clear temporary files.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She housekeeps for several families in the village.
- I've been housekeeping since I left university.
American English
- He housekeeps at the mountain lodge during the winter.
- The software is designed to housekeep the database automatically.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
- N/A
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The housekeeping staff are on strike.
- We need to review the housekeeping budget.
American English
- She manages the housekeeping department.
- These are just housekeeping issues we can resolve quickly.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother has a housekeeper.
- The housekeeper cleans the rooms.
- They hired a housekeeper to help with the cooking and cleaning twice a week.
- The hotel housekeeper left fresh towels for us.
- Finding a reliable, live-in housekeeper proved more difficult than they had anticipated.
- As part of her duties, the housekeeper was responsible for managing the household accounts.
- The novel's protagonist is a housekeeper in a crumbling mansion, privy to all its secrets.
- Before the meeting begins, let's take care of some administrative housekeeping regarding last month's minutes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HOUSE that you KEEP. A houseKEEPER is the person who KEEPS the HOUSE in order.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZATION IS CLEANLINESS / MANAGEMENT IS STEWARDSHIP (A housekeeper 'keeps' or guards the order of the domestic space.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'housewife' (домохозяйка). A housekeeper is a paid job. 'Домработница' is a closer, though not perfect, equivalent.
- Avoid literal translation as 'хранитель дома'; it is not an established term.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'housekeeper' to mean 'housewife' (a non-paid role).
- Misspelling as 'house keeper' (should be one word or hyphenated: house-keeper).
- Confusing with 'caretaker' or 'janitor', who maintain buildings, not necessarily private homes.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'housekeeper' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A cleaner typically only cleans. A housekeeper's role is broader, often including cleaning, laundry, cooking, shopping, and sometimes managing other staff or budgets.
Yes, although historically more common for women, the term is gender-neutral. A male housekeeper might be specified, but 'housekeeper' itself is correct.
A butler is typically a male head servant in a formal household, managing other staff, serving meals, and answering the door. A housekeeper traditionally managed the female staff and the internal running of the house (cleaning, linens, etc.).
Yes. In business, meetings, or computing, 'housekeeping' refers to routine administrative or maintenance tasks (e.g., 'Let's cover some housekeeping matters before we start').