caretaker

noun

care·​tak·​er ˈker-ˌtā-kər How to pronounce caretaker (audio)
1
: one that gives physical or emotional care and support
served as caretaker to the younger children
2
: one that takes care of the house or land of an owner who may be absent
3
: one temporarily fulfilling the function of office
a caretaker government
caretake verb
caretaking noun

Examples of caretaker in a Sentence

We have a caretaker who watches the place for us while we are away. hired a caretaker for the mansion during the winter months
Recent Examples on the Web As the weather warms, these caretakers swing into action. Jane Margolies, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Violet Evelyn Alberts was found dead in her bed by her caretaker in her Montecito home on May 27, 2022, with a window in her home shattered. Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 There’s also the potential for even more practical points of failure, like if caretakers over-rely on a robot to remind patients to take medications. Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2024 One recuperating bird escaped the hands of a caretaker and alighted on top of a shelf. Jess McHugh, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Patients and their caretakers may have access to rescue medications and know how to use them. Jacob Pellinen, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2024 And for an owner who is not a full-time resident and/or doesn’t want to get their hands dirty pruning and soil testing, a caretaker can be engaged to maintain the pint-sized vineyard. Mark David, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024 Therapy horse killed One of the horses was used to provide therapy to children on the autism spectrum, its caretaker told the Miami Herald. David Goodhue and, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024 Her housekeeper and nanny Agnes (Andrea Riseborough) is initially unflappable, but quickly grows concerned as the caretaker of Vernham’s epileptic son. Alison Herman, Variety, 3 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caretaker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of caretaker was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near caretaker

Cite this Entry

“Caretaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caretaker. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

caretaker

noun
care·​tak·​er ˈke(ə)r-ˌtā-kər How to pronounce caretaker (audio)
ˈka(ə)r-
: one that takes care of buildings or land often for an absent owner

More from Merriam-Webster on caretaker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!