What does charlady mean?
A charlady is a woman employed to clean and manage a house or building, often on a daily or part-time basis. The term is commonly used in British English and can refer to a woman who works in a private home, office, or other establishment. Charladies are responsible for tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning surfaces, and may also perform other domestic duties. The term has a somewhat old-fashioned or formal tone, and may be less commonly used in modern English. Despite this, it remains a useful and interesting word for describing a specific occupation.
nounA charlady is a woman employed to clean and manage a house, especially one who works on a daily or part-time basis.
- A woman employed for domestic cleaning duties.
- A woman who does cleaning work, often in an office or public building.
"The charlady came in every morning to dust and vacuum the offices."
"The charlady was very efficient and always left the office spotless."
"My grandmother worked as a charlady for a wealthy family when she was younger."
The plural form is used when referring to multiple women employed for cleaning duties.
"The company employs several charladies to clean the office buildings."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of charlady
The term 'charlady' is derived from 'char', a colloquial or dialectal term for 'chore' or 'task', and 'lady', referring to a woman. The word has its roots in British English and has been in use since at least the 19th century. It is related to other terms such as 'housekeeper' and 'maid', which also describe women employed for domestic duties.
Usage notes
This term is often considered somewhat old-fashioned or formal, and may be used more in British English than in American English.