What does househusband mean?
A househusband is a man whose main occupation is managing domestic tasks and caring for children or other family members. The word is commonly understood as the male counterpart of “housewife,” although it is not necessarily restricted to men who stay at home full time. It can refer to someone who has left paid employment to take primary responsibility for the household, or more broadly to a man who shares housework and childcare with an employed partner. In modern usage, the term is often less judgmental than “housewife” and reflects the wider range of family and employment arrangements in which domestic work is performed by both men and women. It became especially prominent in the second half of the 20th century alongside changing expectations about gender roles, employment, and childcare.
nounA man whose main occupation is doing housework, childcare, and other domestic tasks. The term is often used as a counterpart to “housewife,” especially in discussions of changing gender roles.
- A man who performs the primary domestic and childcare duties in a household.
"He became a househusband after leaving his job to care for the children."
"Her brother is a househusband and looks after their two young children."
"The article examines how the idea of the househusband has changed since the mid-20th century."
The regular plural is formed by adding -s.
"The interview featured several househusbands from different families."
Once mainly a punchline, “househusband” became a serious label for a new kind of family role.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does househusband come from?
The word is a compound of “house,” referring to the home or household, and “husband,” historically meaning the person who manages or maintains a household. The combination developed in the 20th century, chiefly as a gender-marked counterpart to “housewife.” Its development reflects the widespread participation of women in paid employment and the increasing public recognition of men who perform primary domestic and childcare work.
Related word forms
How househusband is actually used
The term is more common in British English, but it is also used in North American English. It can describe either a man who is unemployed or a man who has deliberately chosen domestic work as his principal occupation, so context is important.
Easily confused with househusband
A housewife is a woman whose main occupation is domestic work, while a househusband is a man doing the same kind of work.
A homemaker is a person who manages household tasks, whereas a househusband specifically refers to a man whose main occupation is domestic work.