breadwinner
gb/bɹˈɛdwˌɪnɚ/ us/bɹˈɛdwˌɪnɚ/
B2
English
családfenntartó, kenyérkereső, fő bevételi forrás
NOUN
B2
1
kenyérkereső
C1
Usage pattern:
the breadwinner (for/of) [family/household]
After her partner lost his job, she became the family’s sole breadwinner.
Miután a partnere elvesztette az állását, ő lett a család egyedüli kenyérkeresője.
He worries about taking a pay cut because he’s the main breadwinner at home.
Aggódik a fizetéscsökkentés miatt, mert otthon ő a fő családfenntartó.
In many households, both parents now share the role of breadwinner.
Learner examples
My mother is the breadwinner in our family.
Nálunk anyukám a családfenntartó.
He is the breadwinner, so he works full-time.
Ő a családfenntartó, ezért teljes munkaidőben dolgozik.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think it means someone who wins bread in a competition; it means someone who earns money to support others.
Meaning
person who supports others financially
Collocations
be the breadwinner
|the main breadwinner
|the sole breadwinner
|the family breadwinner
|the household breadwinner
|the primary breadwinner
|breadwinner dad
|breadwinner mom
|breadwinner spouse
|two-breadwinner household
Synonyms
provider (Emphasizes supporting others, not only earning income.)
|
primary earner (More neutral and financial; less family-centered.)
Antonyms
dependent (Someone who relies on another person for financial support.)
|
non-earner (Someone who does not bring in income.)
Themes
family
|money
|work
|relationships
|daily_life
Definition
the person who earns the money for a family
A person who earns money to support other members of a household, especially the one who provides most or all of the household income.
NOUN
C1
BUSINESS
2
Usage pattern:
[thing] is a breadwinner (for) [person/company]
The budget line is the company’s breadwinner, bringing in the bulk of its profits.
Az olcsóbb termékvonal a vállalat fő bevételi forrása, ez hozza a profitja nagy részét.
For years, consulting was the firm’s breadwinner while newer products struggled.
Évekig a tanácsadás volt a cég fő bevételi forrása, miközben az újabb termékek nehezen futottak fel.
That bestseller became the publisher’s breadwinner almost overnight.
Learner examples
This product is a breadwinner for the company.
Ez a termék a cég fő bevételi forrása.
Common mistake:
This use refers to a money-making thing (like a product or job), not a person.
Meaning
main source of income
Collocations
a reliable breadwinner
|the company’s breadwinner
|a major breadwinner
|a steady breadwinner
|a top breadwinner
|a breadwinner product
|a breadwinner service
|a breadwinner division
Synonyms
money-maker (More informal; focuses on earning money, not supporting people.)
|
cash cow (Business term for a consistently profitable product or unit.)
Antonyms
loss-maker (Something that regularly loses money instead of earning it.)
Themes
business
|money
|work
Definition
something that brings in most of the money
A job, product, activity, or part of an organization that provides most of the income or profit.
Grammar
Dictionary form
breadwinner
IPA
GB/bɹˈɛdwˌɪnɚ/
US/bɹˈɛdwˌɪnɚ/
Syllables & stress
bread - win - ner (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bread)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: breadwinner
- Plural: breadwinners
Word family
Forms
breadwinners
noun
Core family
breadwinning
adjective
Related words
earner
noun
provider
noun B1
Expressions
breadwinner role
1/bɹˈɛdwˌɪnɚ ɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
responsibility of earning family income
the responsibility to earn money for a family
Examples
- After the divorce, she took on the breadwinner role alone.
- He felt pressure in the breadwinner role, even though his partner also worked.
- The film challenges traditional ideas about the breadwinner role.
male breadwinner model
1/mˈeɪl bɹˈɛdwˌɪnɚ mˈɑdəl/
fixed phrase
formal
family model with man as earner
a traditional model where the man earns the money
Examples
- The policy debate assumes a male breadwinner model that no longer fits many households.
- Researchers studied how the male breadwinner model shaped employment patterns.
- They rejected the male breadwinner model and shared paid and unpaid work.
primary breadwinner
1/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi bɹˈɛdwˌɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
main person earning household income
the person who earns the most money in a family
Examples
- She is the primary breadwinner, while he works part-time.
- Even as the primary breadwinner, he shares childcare equally.
- They decided to relocate for the primary breadwinner’s new job.
Learner examples
- My sister is the primary breadwinner.
sole breadwinner
1/sˈoʊl bɹˈɛdwˌɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
only person earning household income
the only person who earns money for the family
Examples
- When the baby arrived, he became the sole breadwinner.
- As the sole breadwinner, she couldn’t afford to take unpaid leave.
- They struggled after the sole breadwinner was laid off.
Learner examples
- He is the sole breadwinner in his family.