caretaker

noun

care·​tak·​er ˈker-ˌtā-kər 

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

ˈker-ˌtāk 

verb

caretaking

ˈker-ˌtā-kiŋ 

noun

Synonyms

• custodian
• guardian
• janitor
• keeper
• warden
• watchman

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

Many of these outdoor cats, called community cats, are not comfortable around humans and therefore not suitable to live indoors as a domestic pet but are cared for outdoors by dedicated caretakers, according to Our Companions.. —Our Companions, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024

What to Know Amy Pope, the director-general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), visited Syria to meet with members of the caretaker government, U.N. officials, and advocacy groups. —Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

The vote to dissolve the government, which passed 394 to 207, with 116 abstentions, leaves Europe’s largest economy in the hands of a caretaker government ahead of elections early next year. —Natasha Frost, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2024

Scholz, who will head a caretaker government until a new one can be formed, defended his record as a crisis leader who had dealt with the economic and security emergency triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. —Fox News, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

caretaker

noun

care·​tak·​er ˈke(ə)r-ˌtā-kər 

ˈka(ə)r-

: one that takes care of buildings or land often for an absent owner