Is 'housework' the same as 'homework'?

No, they are completely different. 'Housework' refers to cleaning and maintaining a home. 'Homework' refers to school assignments done at home.

Can 'housework' be used in the plural?

Rarely. It is primarily an uncountable noun. You might see a poetic or non-standard plural 'houseworks' to emphasize different types of tasks, but 'housework' is standard.

Is 'housework' a formal word?

It is neutral but more common in everyday speech. In formal or academic contexts, especially in sociology or economics, terms like 'domestic labour', 'unpaid care work', or 'household production' are often preferred.

How do I use it correctly in a sentence?

Use it as an uncountable noun, usually with verbs like 'do', 'share', 'help with', or 'be responsible for'. For example: 'Who does the housework in your family?' or 'I hate doing housework on Sundays.'

housework

UK/ˈhaʊs.wɜːk/US/ˈhaʊs.wɝːk/

Neutral to informal. Common in everyday conversation; less common in formal/academic writing where terms like 'domestic labour' or 'unpaid care work' might be used.

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

The regular work required to maintain a house or flat, such as cleaning, cooking, and washing.

The unpaid domestic labour performed within a household. Can be used metaphorically for any tedious, routine maintenance tasks.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Typically an uncountable noun referring to the activity as a whole. Implies routine, repetitive tasks. Often carries connotations of obligation and lack of glamour.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The word is used identically in both varieties. The concept and frequency of use are the same.

Connotations

Slightly old-fashioned or traditional in both, potentially gendered, though this is changing. Can evoke debates about labour division in modern households.

Frequency

Equally common in both BrE and AmE.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

do the houseworkshare the houseworkhousework chores

medium

daily houseworkroutine houseworkhousework dutiesendless housework

weak

heavy houseworklight houseworkhousework taskshousework schedule

Grammar

Valency Patterns

do [some/a lot of/the] houseworkshare [the] houseworkhelp with [the] houseworkbe responsible for [the] housework

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

housekeepingdomestic dutieshome maintenance

Neutral

choresdomestic workhousehold choreshousehold tasks

Weak

cleaningtidyinghousehold management

Vocabulary

Antonyms

leisurerecreationprofessional workpaid employment

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“A woman's work is never done (related idiom)”
“To pull one's weight (around the house)”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare. Might appear in contexts discussing work-life balance, household services, or appliance marketing.

Academic

Used in sociological, gender studies, or economic discussions of unpaid labour and time use surveys.

Everyday

Very common. Used in conversations about daily life, responsibilities, and family.

Technical

Not typically a technical term. Replaced by more precise terms in specific fields (e.g., 'domestic labour' in economics).

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

I need to housework this weekend.
She houseworks every morning before her job.

American English

*'Housework' is not used as a verb. Use 'do housework' or 'clean'.

adverb

British English

*Not used as an adverb.

American English

*Not used as an adverb.

adjective

British English

*'Housework' is not typically used as an adjective. Use 'household' (household chores).

American English

*Not standard as an adjective.

Examples

By CEFR Level

I help my mum with the housework.
Housework is boring.

We share the housework equally in our flat.
I spent all Saturday doing housework.

Advances in technology have reduced the time spent on routine housework.
The debate about who does the housework is common in many relationships.

Sociologists study the gendered division of housework as an indicator of equality within partnerships.
The invisibility of unpaid housework in traditional economic models has long been criticised by feminist economists.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a HOUSE where the WORK never seems to finish: cleaning, washing, cooking. HOUSE + WORK = the work of the house.

Conceptual Metaphor

HOUSEWORK IS A BURDEN / A NEVER-ENDING CYCLE / (Historically) WOMEN'S WORK.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Не переводите как 'работа по дому' в смысле ремонта (это 'home repairs' или 'DIY'). 'Housework' — это регулярная уборка и поддержание порядка.
Избегайте calque 'домашняя работа', так как в русском это может значить и школьное задание. Лучше 'работа по дому' или 'домашние дела'.

Common Mistakes

Using it as a countable noun (*I have three houseworks to do).
Confusing with 'homework' (school assignments).
Using 'house job' or 'home work' as direct translations.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

After a long week at the office, she faced the daunting prospect of the weekend .

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best synonym for 'housework' in the sentence: 'Dividing the housework fairly can prevent arguments.'?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, they are completely different. 'Housework' refers to cleaning and maintaining a home. 'Homework' refers to school assignments done at home.
: Rarely. It is primarily an uncountable noun. You might see a poetic or non-standard plural 'houseworks' to emphasize different types of tasks, but 'housework' is standard.
: It is neutral but more common in everyday speech. In formal or academic contexts, especially in sociology or economics, terms like 'domestic labour', 'unpaid care work', or 'household production' are often preferred.
: Use it as an uncountable noun, usually with verbs like 'do', 'share', 'help with', or 'be responsible for'. For example: 'Who does the housework in your family?' or 'I hate doing housework on Sundays.'

Explore

Related Words

housekeeping sewing