Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

caretaker

/ˈkɛɹˌteɪ.kɚ/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about caretaker at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Someone who takes care of a place or thing; someone looking after a place, or responsible for keeping it in good repair.
Her dad was a cemetery caretaker for many years. There was a lot of landscaping work. The gravedigging itself was done with backhoes.
Synonym of caregiver (“a person who provides care to another”).

adjective

Temporary, on a short term basis.
Johnson had to be drafted in as the caretaker manager after Hewlett resigned without warning the day before the final.

Origin

From care + taker.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word