# maid

/ˈmeɪd/ (US) · /mˈeɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/maid
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. domestic worker

noun · CEFR B1

a person, usually a woman, whose job is to clean and tidy rooms in a house or a hotel.

For teachers: a female domestic servant or a person employed to perform cleaning and maintenance tasks in a private residence or hospitality setting.

- The hotel maid brought fresh towels to our room every morning.
- The wealthy family employed a full-time maid to manage the daily upkeep of their sprawling country estate.

### 2. young woman

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary · Archaic

a young woman who is not married.

For teachers: a girl or an unmarried young woman; often used in historical or poetic contexts.

- The old story tells of a fair maid who lived in a tower.
- In the ballad, the young maid waited by the shore for her lover's ship to return from the distant wars.

## Examples

- The hotel maid brings fresh towels every morning.
- After the guests checked out, the maid arrived to deep clean the suite and restock the minibar.
- While the role of the live-in maid has largely vanished from middle-class households, the hospitality industry remains dependent on professional cleaning staff to maintain rigorous hygiene standards.

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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.