# housework

/ˈhaʊˌswɝk/ (US) · /hˈaʊswɜːk/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/housework
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

the work you do to keep a home clean and tidy, such as cleaning floors or washing clothes. It is the regular chores that happen inside the house.

For teachers: the routine tasks involved in the maintenance and cleaning of a home. Often contrasted with 'homework', which refers to school assignments.

## Examples

- I usually do the housework on Saturday mornings.
- They decided to share the housework equally, with one person cooking and the other cleaning the kitchen.
- The introduction of labor-saving appliances in the mid-twentieth century was expected to reduce the time spent on housework, yet standards of domestic cleanliness rose simultaneously.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I have many houseworks to do." but "I have a lot of housework to do." — Housework is uncountable and does not have a plural form.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable; takes a singular verb and cannot be used with 'a' or in a plural form.

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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.