caregiver

noun

care·​giv·​er ˈker-ˌgi-vər How to pronounce caregiver (audio)
plural caregivers
Synonyms of caregivernext
: a person who provides direct care (as for children, elderly people, or the chronically ill)
The care of a patient with Alzheimer's Disease or a related disorder can be a physical, emotional and financial drain on the family caregiver.Diane Duquette Ascioti
Each child was rated by at least one parent. Questionnaires completed by another significant caregiver (teacher or daycare provider) were available on 85% of the sample …Alan E. Kazdin et al.
You probably can imagine the difficulty a caregiver can have getting an immobile patient into a whirlpool.Paul G. Donahue
caregiving noun
… researchers have repeatedly documented the psychiatric and physical health effects of family caregiving. Richard Schulz et al.
Many readers … had their own stories of being treated badly at work because of caregiving duties. Sue Shellenbarger
One of the most significant ways you can help animals, educate yourself about the joys and heartbreaks of caregiving and earn untold psychic rewards is to volunteer at a shelter. Wendy Christensen

Examples of caregiver in a Sentence

When she got sick her husband became her primary caregiver. he could no longer keep up his role as caregiver for his sick wife
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This type of situation, however, may just mean that the parent wished to reward the caregiver for taking care of him. Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026 Instead, qualified working parents and other eligible caregivers who make less than the program’s income limit apply directly to the state for assistance, which is paid to the day care center. Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026 But most caregivers investigated for child abuse and neglect are not employed full time and may not earn enough to file taxes, let alone receive a sizable refund. Sarah A. Font, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026 Another alleged victim was a 91-year-old woman who told deputies Sylvain had approached her on a bus in October and purported to be a caregiver assigned to her through her insurance, a separate probable cause affidavit said. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for caregiver

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caregiver was in 1886

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Caregiver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caregiver. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

Medical Definition

caregiver

noun
care·​giv·​er -ˌgiv-ər How to pronounce caregiver (audio)
: a person who provides direct care (as for children, elderly people, or the chronically ill)
parents and other caregivers
caregiving noun

More from Merriam-Webster on caregiver

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