housekeeping

noun

house·​keep·​ing ˈhau̇s-ˌkē-piŋ How to pronounce housekeeping (audio)
1
a
: the management of a house and home affairs
… coming home to husbands who won't share in the housekeepingThe Wilson Quarterly
The first defense against insect infestation is good housekeeping (regular vacuuming) to remove eggs and larvae from the fabrics.Sara J. Wolf
b
: the work or activity of cleaning and preparing rooms for customers (as in a hotel)
often used before another noun
housekeeping services
took a housekeeping job at a nearby hotel
also : the department or employees responsible for doing such work
If you need fresh towels you can call housekeeping.
2
: the care and management of property and the provision of equipment and services (as for an industrial organization)
3
: the routine tasks that must be done in order for a system to function or to function efficiently
performing some computer housekeeping by deleting old files

Examples of housekeeping in a Sentence

We took the computer offline to do some basic housekeeping.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Quick housekeeping note: This will be the last edition of Current Climate for 2024. Amy Feldman, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 To be sure, securing trademarks is a relatively perfunctory bit of legal housekeeping and doesn’t necessarily indicate grander plans are underway. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 Dec. 2024 Larry's wish: A bed and mattress; clothes; a television; kitchen and housekeeping items; a table; backpack; office supplies. John Johnston, The Enquirer, 6 Dec. 2024 Throughout the decade that followed, Guerrero worked in housekeeping at a hotel in downtown Phoenix. Paula Soria, The Arizona Republic, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for housekeeping 

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of housekeeping was in 1529

Dictionary Entries Near housekeeping

Cite this Entry

“Housekeeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/housekeeping. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

housekeeping

noun
house·​keep·​ing
ˈhau̇-ˌskē-piŋ
: the care and management of a house and home affairs

More from Merriam-Webster on housekeeping

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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