Definition

A man who is responsible for managing a house, especially in a boarding school or similar institution.

Example

The housefather organized activities for the students living in the dormitory.

Conversation

Have you met the new housefather at the dorm?

Yeah, I met him yesterday. He seems really nice.

I heard he used to work at another school.

That's cool! It’s great to have someone experienced.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Housefather → It is formed from "house" (from Old English *hus*, meaning dwelling or shelter) and "father" (from Old English *fæder*, meaning male parent). The word "housefather" refers to the male head of a household or family.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'house' as a place where people live and 'father' as the male parent — together, a housefather is the male leader of a home.

Visually Confused Words