housemaid

IPA/ˈhaʊsmeɪd/
IPA/ˈhaʊsmeɪd/

housemaid — noun

  • housemaidsingular
  • housemaidsplural

1. a woman whose job is to clean and maintain a private home, usually employed by t

1.nounB2
Definition

a woman whose job is to clean and maintain a private home, usually employed by the family living there and often residing in the same house

Example

Amara worked as a housemaid for the Watanabe family in Taipei for ten years.

work as a housemaid + for + [employer family]

The housemaid at the villa polished the wooden floors and cleaned the guest rooms every morning.

typical duties: polish floors, clean rooms

Common collocations
  • work as a housemaid
  • housemaid for the [family]
  • housemaid at the [house/villa/estate]
  • employ a housemaid
  • housemaid's duties
Synonyms
  • maid

    shorter and more general; also used for hotel workers

  • housekeeper

    modern term; may also manage household staff, not limited to cleaning

  • domestic worker

    broader formal term covering cleaners, nannies, gardeners; politically neutral

  • cleaner

    everyday word for someone who cleans homes, offices, or public buildings

Antonyms
  • employer

    the person who hires the housemaid

Grammar Patterns

housemaid + for + [employer]

housemaid + at + [location]

Usage Note

Now considered somewhat old-fashioned; 'housekeeper' or 'cleaner' are more common in everyday modern English. 'Housemaid' often appears in historical or literary contexts.

Common Mistakes

The housemaid cleaned the hospital.
The cleaner cleaned the hospital.
'housemaid' refers specifically to a domestic servant in a private home, not an institution.
He works as a housemaid.
She works as a housemaid.
'housemaid' implies a woman; for a man, use 'housekeeper' or 'domestic worker'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four describe someone paid to clean a home, but they differ in scope and register. 'Maid' is the shortest and most general; it can also refer to a hotel cleaner. 'Housemaid' specifically means a woman who cleans a private house and often lives there — it sounds old-fashioned and appears more in historical novels than in modern job ads. 'Housekeeper' is the modern equivalent for someone who manages household cleaning and may supervise other staff. 'Domestic worker' is the broadest, most formal, and politically neutral term, covering cleaners, nannies, and gardeners. 'Cleaner' is the everyday word for someone who does cleaning work in homes, offices, or public buildings. For example, a Victorian novel might describe a housemaid who rose at dawn to light the fires, whereas today a family would advertise for a part-time cleaner or housekeeper.

maid ↗housekeeper ↗domestic workercleaner ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • work as a housemaid
  • employ a housemaid
  • housemaid's duties

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed by combining 'house' (from Old English 'hūs', a building for human habitation) with 'maid' (a shortened form of 'maiden', from Old English 'mægden', meaning an unmarried woman or female servant). The compound 'housemaid' first appeared in the 1500s, referring to a female domestic worker who lived in her employer's home.