laundress
LowFormal, Historical, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A woman whose job is washing and ironing clothes and linens, often working in a private household or laundry.
Historically, a female domestic worker employed specifically for laundry duties; the term can also be used to refer to a woman who owns or runs a laundry business.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is gender-specific (female) and job-specific, now largely archaic and replaced by gender-neutral terms like 'laundry worker' or context-specific terms like 'dry cleaner'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare and historical in both varieties. No significant regional difference in meaning.
Connotations
Connotes a pre-20th century domestic service role, often evoking a sense of historical or literary context.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern speech and writing in both regions, found primarily in historical texts, period dramas, or genealogical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] worked as a laundress[determiner] laundress [verb] the linensVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used in modern business contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or literary studies discussing domestic labour and gender roles.
Everyday
Almost never used in contemporary everyday conversation.
Technical
Not a technical term; of interest only in historical domestic service taxonomy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A long time ago, a laundress washed clothes by the river.
- In the 19th century, many poor women worked as laundresses for wealthy families.
- The novel's protagonist, a young laundress, struggled to make ends meet in Victorian London.
- Census records from 1881 listed her occupation as a laundress, indicative of the gendered and low-status nature of domestic labour at the time.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DRESS being washed: a LAUNDRESS is a woman who launders dresses and other clothes.
Conceptual Metaphor
DOMESTIC LABOUR IS A HIERARCHICAL SERVICE (evoking images of class and gendered work).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как "прачечная" (это laundry). Правильно: "прачка".
- Избегать кальки "ландресс".
Common Mistakes
- Using it to refer to a modern laundry business owner (anachronistic).
- Using it as a gender-neutral term (it is specifically female).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of a 'laundress'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term. You will encounter it mainly in historical texts, period novels, or films.
There is no direct, common male equivalent. Historically, terms like 'laundryman' or 'washerman' were possible, but the role was predominantly female.
It would sound very odd and anachronistic. Use terms like 'laundry assistant', 'laundry worker', or 'dry cleaner' instead.
It reflects the historical reality where domestic laundry was strictly gendered women's work. Modern English increasingly uses gender-neutral job titles.