HOUSEWIFE Meaning of HOUSEWIFE in English n. (pl. -wives) 1. a woman (usu. married) managing a household. 2 a case for needles, thread, etc. Derivatives: housewifely adj. housewifeliness n. Etymology: ME hus(e)wif f. HOUSE + WIFE Oxford English vocab. Оксфордский английский словарь. 2012