# breadwinner

/ˈbɹɛdˌwɪnɝ/ (US) · /bɹˈɛdwɪnɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/breadwinner
Updated: 2026-10-14

## Definition

the person in a family who earns the money to support everyone else.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.