Have you ever given thought to how the word ‘homemaker’ appeared in the English language and wondered about the difference between ‘homemaker’ and ‘housewife?’

In all research it was found the two words in some contexts, formal or informal, are synonymous, yet there is a difference how they should be used. Housewife, a word used since the 13th century, definitely means a married woman who stays within the house as her daily routine. Homemaker, a much younger word with a first known use in 1876, is one who handles household responsibilities.

Dictionaries define homemaker in several different fashions depending on the time it was written. For instance:

Home-mak-er: noun, a wife who does work (such as sewing, cleaning or cooking) at home and usually does not have another job outside the home.

Homemaker, n.: One who manages a household, especially as one’s main daily activity.

Homemaker: Handles household responsibilities as his or her main da...