househusband

househusband — noun

1. a married man whose main daily work is taking care of his home, cooking, cleanin

1.nounB2
Definition

a married man whose main daily work is taking care of his home, cooking, cleaning, and looking after children, rather than going out to earn money

Example

After losing his job, Christopher became a househusband while his wife continued her career.

role change context — from paid work to home

Three househusbands in Taipei manage their children's school schedules and cook dinner every day.

Common collocations
  • full-time househusband
  • proud househusband
  • modern househusband
  • become a househusband
Synonyms
  • stay-at-home dad

    more common in everyday conversation; can refer to unmarried fathers too

  • homemaker

    gender-neutral term with a broader meaning that includes managing the household, not necessarily with children

Usage Note

Formed on the model of 'housewife'. Some speakers consider it informal; 'stay-at-home dad' is a neutral alternative that works for both married and unmarried fathers.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all three terms describe someone focused on home and family, they differ in scope and register. 'Househusband' emphasizes the domestic role of a married man — it mirrors 'housewife' in structure and carries a similar informal, sometimes self-conscious tone. 'Stay-at-home dad' is more common in everyday speech, broader because it works for unmarried fathers as well, and focuses on childcare rather than housekeeping. 'Homemaker' is gender-neutral and more formal; it refers to managing a household regardless of parental status. For example, a man might say 'I am a stay-at-home dad' at a playground but write 'homemaker' on a government form.

stay-at-home dadhomemakerhousewife ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • become a househusband
  • work as a househusband
  • be a househusband

Prepositions

  • as a househusband

Etymology

EnglishEnglish

A compound of 'house' (home, household) and 'husband' (married man), created on the pattern of 'housewife', which dates from the 13th century. The term 'househusband' entered common use in the 1970s as changing gender roles made stay-at-home fathers more visible in society.