Unhousewifely

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. An individual whose actions or traits defy societal norms for traditional homemaking roles
2. Exhibiting behavior or qualities that do not align with customary domestic roles assigned to women in a home setting
3. Displaying traits or actions that challenge or reject the conventional duties associated with homemaking

Etymology: "Unhousewifely" is a plain formation: the prefix "un-", meaning "not", attached to "housewifely", which itself is "housewife" with the adjective suffix "-ly" added. The result describes conduct or qualities that fall outside what has traditionally been expected of a homemaker, such as neglecting cooking, cleaning or household management. The base word carries its own history. "Housewife" was originally "hussy" in a sense now lost, and it was later reshaped into a term for a woman who runs a household. Its modern reference to a married woman managing a home is what "housewifely" describes, and "un-" simply reverses that quality.

Synonyms: non-domestic, untraditional

Antonyms: domestic, traditional