# sitter

/ˈsɪtɝ/ (US) · /sˈɪtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sitter
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a person who looks after a child, a pet, or a house while the owner is away. It is a shorter way to say 'babysitter' or 'house-sitter'.

For teachers: a person who takes temporary charge of a child, pet, or property in the owner's absence. Often used as a shortened form of 'babysitter' or 'pet-sitter'.

## Examples

- We need to find a sitter for Saturday night.
- Since the regular sitter was unavailable, the parents had to cancel their dinner plans at the last minute.
- Finding a reliable sitter who can manage three energetic dogs and a large garden requires a thorough vetting process and clear communication of expectations.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used as a suffix in compound nouns like 'babysitter', 'house-sitter', or 'dog-sitter'.

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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.