Definition of "housewife" []

• A woman who manages her own household as her main occupation. (noun)
• A small container for needles, thread, and other sewing equipment. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "I just found this interesting commentary on Alertnet taking about the "Housewife theory on History," and looks at some of the political moves women have made, using the label housewife to strategically get places and say things that would not otherwise have been heard."
• "It became very appealing for me to indulge what I call my housewife fantasy."
• "A survey this week by Mothercare has revealed that she has turned against the title "housewife" with two-thirds of those questioned saying they prefer to be known as "stay-at-home mums"."