breadwinner
noun
bread·win·ner
ˈbred-ˌwi-nər 
plural breadwinners
1
: a member of a family whose wages supply the family's principal or only means of support
the main/primary/sole breadwinner in the family
… many more households have two breadwinners, making it unlikely that there will be someone home all afternoon to cook.—
Mark Bittman
Mark Bittman2
: a means (such as a tool, craft, or activity) of livelihood : a way of earning income
Crop diversity kept the overall value of Montana agriculture strong even as wheat, the state agriculture's breadwinner, faltered.—Tom Lutey
Tom LuteyCatfish farming has become the breadwinner industry for many families in west Alabama …—Robert Dewitt and Benita D. Newton
Robert Dewitt and Benita D. NewtonExamples of breadwinner in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Later, the woman returned to law school, passed the bar, and was hired at a firm—becoming the primary breadwinner.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
In Doral, where 40% of the city is of Venezuelan descent, Councilmember Maureen Porras tells Axios that TPS holders are business owners, employees and breadwinners for their families.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025
Her legacy was being beaten on schedule for more than twenty years by a man who cleaned up nice and came to her funeral late, his sins absolved by his capacity as breadwinner.
—Joseph Earl Thomas, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
By challenging these expectations and embracing a healthier way of living, female breadwinners can redefine success on their terms.
—Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breadwinner
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John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
In Doral, where 40% of the city is of Venezuelan descent, Councilmember Maureen Porras tells Axios that TPS holders are business owners, employees and breadwinners for their families.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025
Her legacy was being beaten on schedule for more than twenty years by a man who cleaned up nice and came to her funeral late, his sins absolved by his capacity as breadwinner.
—Joseph Earl Thomas, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
By challenging these expectations and embracing a healthier way of living, female breadwinners can redefine success on their terms.
—Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breadwinner
Cite this Entry
“Breadwinner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breadwinner. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
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breadwinner
noun
bread·win·ner
ˈbred-ˌwin-ər
: a person whose wages provide support for his or her family
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