breadwinner

noun

bread·​win·​ner ˈbred-ˌwi-nər How to pronounce breadwinner (audio)
plural breadwinners
1
: a member of a family whose wages supply the family's principal or only means of support
the main/primary/sole breadwinner in the family
… many more households have two breadwinners, making it unlikely that there will be someone home all afternoon to cook.Mark Bittman
2
: a means (such as a tool, craft, or activity) of livelihood : a way of earning income
Crop diversity kept the overall value of Montana agriculture strong even as wheat, the state agriculture's breadwinner, faltered.Tom Lutey
Catfish farming has become the breadwinner industry for many families in west Alabama …Robert Dewitt and Benita D. Newton
breadwinning noun

Examples of breadwinner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In intimate relationships, this often translates to a rigid and stereotypical division of labor—men are expected to fulfill the roles of primary breadwinners and protectors, while women are assigned domestic responsibilities. Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, an ascendant right wing is busy flogging the concept of the nuclear family — heterosexual, natch — with men as breadwinners and women maintaining the home and raising children. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024 The authors of the study argue that patriarchal norms that position men as all-important breadwinners and women as less essential are one reason for the disparity. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2023 The fact is many of the kids on these shows are put in the untenable position of becoming the breadwinner for their family and the pressure that comes along with that. Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 11 Feb. 2024 Gendered expectations put real pressure on husbands and fathers to be breadwinners and providers. Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 6 Dec. 2023 Separated from a primary breadwinner, many must now fend for themselves. Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2023 Overnight, his wife became the family’s main breadwinner. Miriam Jordan Adam Perez, New York Times, 5 Dec. 2023 The American Horror Story actor became the breadwinner for his family as a child, starring in the classic Christmas movies Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and the comedy Richie Rich. Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breadwinner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1614, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of breadwinner was circa 1614

Dictionary Entries Near breadwinner

Cite this Entry

“Breadwinner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breadwinner. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

breadwinner

noun
bread·​win·​ner ˈbred-ˌwin-ər How to pronounce breadwinner (audio)
: a person whose wages provide support for his or her family

More from Merriam-Webster on breadwinner

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