DCHP-3

caremonger

DCHP-3 (Apr 2025)

Spelling variants:
Caremonger

n. — originally Healthcare, Media

someone who expresses care about disprivileged people during COVID-19.

Type: 1. Origin — The term caremonger occurred at the same time as caremongering (the former attested 17 March 2020, the latter 16 March 2020; see the 2020 quotations). Within two months, caremonger occurred in a YouTube video (see the video from CareCanada, dated 6 May 2020). The term has been exceedingly rare since, however.

Caremonger is not attested in OED-3 nor in Merriam-Webster Unabridged (1 May 2025). It is attested in Collins English Dictionary, labelled "in British English" as 'a person who performs altruistic acts to help vulnerable members of his or her community' (s.v. "caremonger"). However, the term is of Canadian coinage (see the 2020 quotations).

Quotations

17 Mar. 2020
"A caremonger could offer to deliver groceries, or pick up prescriptions. There have been offers of pet walking, or simply for a phone call to chat," she said. "With groceries, people could order from the store, pay in advance, and the caremonger could pick up the packages and drop them off at the person's home."
2020
"I love the hashtag #caremongers, not scaremongers, because we are all scared," said Christine Cooper, administrator of Caremongering - Midland/Penetang set up in March.
2021
One year into the pandemic, Caremonger Pickering-Ajax has been there along the way, helping residents gain access to the things they need during these unusual times.

References

  • CareCanada (2020): "How to caremonger"
    • Video
  • Collins English Dictionary (2025)
    • caremonger
  • OED-3
  • Merriam-Webster Unabridged