stay-at-home: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to neutral, common in journalism and everyday conversation; the hyphenated form is standard for the noun/adjective.
Quick answer
What does “stay-at-home” mean?
A person, typically a parent, who remains at home to care for the household and family rather than engaging in paid employment outside the home.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, typically a parent, who remains at home to care for the household and family rather than engaging in paid employment outside the home.
Can describe a lifestyle choice or period where someone rarely leaves their residence, or a policy/work arrangement designed for domestic activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. 'Stay-at-home dad/mum' is slightly more common in UK media than 'stay-at-home father/mother', which is more formal and frequent in US publications.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can imply traditional family values or, conversely, a lack of engagement with the wider world. The term itself is neutral, but societal attitudes colour its interpretation.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects. The rise of remote work has prompted discussions about the term's relevance, making it a contemporary lexical item.
Grammar
How to Use “stay-at-home” in a Sentence
[be/become] a stay-at-home[adj.] stay-at-home [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stay-at-home” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I decided to stay at home and look after the children.
American English
- She plans to stay at home once the baby arrives.
adverb
British English
- They worked stay-at-home throughout the lockdown period.
American English
- The new policy allows employees to work stay-at-home two days a week.
adjective
British English
- He is a proud stay-at-home father who manages the school runs.
American English
- The study compared outcomes for children of stay-at-home moms and working moms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR contexts discussing parental leave policies or flexible work arrangements.
Academic
Appears in sociological studies of family structures, gender roles, and labour economics.
Everyday
Common in conversations about family, childcare, and work-life balance.
Technical
Rare in technical fields; more common in public health (e.g., 'stay-at-home orders' during a pandemic).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stay-at-home”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stay-at-home”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stay-at-home”
- Writing it as three separate words ('stay at home') when used as a compound noun/adjective. Using it to describe someone who is simply unemployed without domestic care duties.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used as a compound noun or adjective before another noun (e.g., stay-at-home dad). The verb phrase is not hyphenated (e.g., I want to stay at home).
It's possible but less common. The term strongly collocates with 'parent'. For a childless person who rarely goes out, 'homebody' is more typical.
It is still widely used, but terms like 'homemaker' or 'primary caregiver' are sometimes preferred as they are gender-neutral and focus on the role rather than location.
'Housewife' is an older, gendered term that focuses on marital status and housework. 'Stay-at-home mum' is more modern, gender-specific, and focuses on childcare as a primary role, though it also involves housework.
A person, typically a parent, who remains at home to care for the household and family rather than engaging in paid employment outside the home.
Stay-at-home is usually informal to neutral, common in journalism and everyday conversation; the hyphenated form is standard for the noun/adjective. in register.
Stay-at-home: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪ ət ˈhəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪ ət ˈhoʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A stay-at-home order (official instruction to remain indoors)”
- “The stay-at-home vote (demographic of voters who are often home)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a house with a sign on the door that says 'STAY' – the person inside is the 'stay-at-home'.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOME AS A SPHERE OF WORK (The home is conceptualised as a workplace with its own duties and value).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'stay-at-home' most appropriately used as a compound adjective?