Word
breadwinner
Phoneticsbread·win·ner, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɹɛdˌwɪnɝ/
UK/bɹˈɛdwɪnɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the person in a family who earns the money to support everyone else.
n. the member of a household who provides the primary or sole income for its support.
Examples
“She is the breadwinner in her family.”
“After his partner stopped working, he became the sole breadwinner and took extra shifts to pay the rent.”
“Although dual incomes are now common, the traditional image of a single breadwinner still shapes debates about wages, childcare, and parental leave.”
Examples
simple
“She is the breadwinner in her family.”
contextual
“After his partner stopped working, he became the sole breadwinner and took extra shifts to pay the rent.”
complex
“Although dual incomes are now common, the traditional image of a single breadwinner still shapes debates about wages, childcare, and parental leave.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “breadwinner” in context.
Verb
01. become breadwinner
“She became the breadwinner after her husband lost his job.”
verb + noun
02. breadwinner dies
“If the breadwinner dies, the family may lose its only income.”
noun + verb
03. breadwinner earns
“The breadwinner earns enough to cover rent, food and bills.”
noun + verb
04. breadwinner supports
“The breadwinner supports a family of five on a modest salary.”
noun + verb
05. lose breadwinner
“The family lost its breadwinner in the accident and needed help.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. female breadwinner
“The number of female breadwinners has risen sharply in recent years.”
adj + noun
07. main breadwinner
“She is the main breadwinner while her partner studies full time.”
adj + noun
08. primary breadwinner
“As the primary breadwinner, he works two jobs to pay the mortgage.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. death of breadwinner
“Insurance can help the family after the death of the breadwinner.”
noun + prep + noun
10. loss of breadwinner
“The loss of the breadwinner left the family in serious debt.”
noun + prep + noun
11. become the main breadwinner
“He became the main breadwinner when his wife went back to college.”
12. lose the family breadwinner
“They struggled financially after losing the family breadwinner.”
Etymology
From bread + winner, where to win = to earn. Compare West Frisian breawinning (“livelihood”, literally “bread-winning”), Dutch broodwinning (“livelihood”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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