sitter

Sitter is a noun used in English to denote a person who sits for someone else or who sits in a particular role. It is commonly applied to individuals who provide temporary care or companionship, as well as to those who pose for artists.

In the childcare context, a babysitter or babysitting is a person who supervises children for a period, often in the parents’ absence. Duties can include supervising activities, preparing meals, helping with bedtime routines, and ensuring safety. Rates and scheduling vary by location and experience. A pet sitter performs a similar caregiving function for animals, either in the owner’s home or at a sitter’s location, and may include feeding, walking, administering medications, and monitoring well-being. A house sitter cares for a home while the owner is away, sometimes also looking after plants, mail, and basic maintenance tasks.

Another common usage describes a person who sits for an artist or photographer—known as a portrait sitter or life model—posing for drawings, paintings, or sculptures. Sessions are typically scheduled for set durations and compensated according to arrangement or market standards.

Etymology and usage: sitter derives from the verb sit and has been used since the medieval period in agent-noun form. It can also appear as a surname in various regions. The term encompasses several distinct roles, linked primarily by the act of sitting in service, supervision, or posing.