caretaker meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

caretaker

noun

US /ˈkɛɹˌteɪ.kɚ/ · UK /ˈkɛəˌteɪ.kə/

Etymology From care + taker.

Someone who takes care of a place or thing; someone looking after a place, or responsible for keeping it in good repair.

Her dad was a cemetery caretaker for many years. There was a lot of landscaping work. The gravedigging itself was done with backhoes.
‘Miss Brindle must be very rich to live in such a big house,’ went on Jessamy. ‘Miss Brindle rich?’ said Aunt Maggie. ‘Bless you, she hasn’t tuppence to rub together. She’s only the caretaker.’1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 11:

Uncommon Synonym of caregiver (“a person who provides care to another”).

adj

Etymology From care + taker.

UK Temporary, on a short term basis.

Johnson had to be drafted in as the caretaker manager after Hewlett resigned without warning the day before the final.
Sources within Sánchez’s caretaker administration claim the amnesty law is perfectly in keeping with the Socialist-led government’s efforts to calm tensions and find a political solution to the so-called Catalan question.2023 November 15, Sam Jones, “Acting Spanish PM on verge of second term after controversial Catalan amnesty deal”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

1 more example

Michael Carrick enjoyed the perfect start to his second spell as Manchester United caretaker boss as second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu inflicted massive damage on Manchester City's Premier League title hopes.2026 January 17, Simon Stone, Shamoon Hafez, “Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City”, in BBC: