Definition

Noun: 1. The management and routine tasks involved in running a household. This includes cleaning, organizing, shopping for supplies, and other domestic duties necessary to maintain a home. 2. The routine tasks necessary for the orderly operation and maintenance of a system, organization, or institution. This extended meaning applies to tasks like record-keeping, budgeting, and general administrative duties in a business or other non-domestic setting.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Domestic context):

  • She splits the housekeeping chores with her roommate.
  • Good housekeeping helps prevent the spread of germs.
  • The hotel's daily housekeeping service ensures all rooms are tidy.

• Noun (Administrative/Organizational context):

  • The accountant is responsible for the financial housekeeping of the department.
  • We need to do some data housekeeping to clear out old files from the server.
  • The new manager introduced better administrative housekeeping procedures.

Advanced Usage

• "Housekeeping rules/announcement": A preliminary announcement or set of rules given at the start of a meeting, event, or course to explain practical and administrative matters.
  • Before we begin the conference, a quick housekeeping announcement: the restrooms are located down the hall.
• "Housekeeping gene": (Biology) A term for a gene that is required for the basic maintenance of cellular function and is expressed in all cells of an organism under normal conditions.

Variants and Related Words

• Housekeeper (n): A person employed to manage the household or perform cleaning tasks.
  • They hired a housekeeper to come twice a week.
• Housekeep (v, less common): To manage or perform the tasks of housekeeping.
  • She housekeeps for a large family.

Synonyms

• Domestic management: (n) The running of a household.
• Chores: (n) Routine tasks, especially in a home.
• Maintenance: (n) The process of preserving or keeping something in good condition.
• Administration: (n) The process or activity of running an organization.

Related Phrases

• Good housekeeping: Often used to signify proper management, cleanliness, and order.
  • The seal of Good Housekeeping on a product indicates it has been tested and approved by the institute.
• Housekeeping money/allowance: A sum of money allocated or budgeted for routine household expenses.
  • She manages the weekly housekeeping money for groceries and supplies.

Noun

1. the work of cleaning and running a house