Daycare

'deɪˌkɛər

nounBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

A place where children are looked after during the day, especially while their parents are working.

'deɪˌkɛər

nounneutralBeginner
General

Supervision of children during the day

She enrolled her child in a daycare center.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're a little kid, and your parents have to go to work. Daycare is like a fun place where you play with other kids and have a grown-up take care of you and keep you safe! It's a special place for the daytime.

👶 For kids: A place where kids go to play and learn during the day while their parents are at work.

More Examples

2

The cost of daycare can be a significant expense for families.

3

Daycare providers often offer educational activities for the children.

How It's Used

Family & Education

"Parents use daycare centers to care for their children while they work."

Social Services

"Many low-income families rely on subsidized daycare programs."

From 'day' + 'care'. First attested in the late 19th century, evolving from the concept of daytime supervision for children, particularly for working mothers.

The term 'day care' emerged in the late 19th century, initially focusing on care for young children of working mothers, reflecting changes in family structure and the rise of industrial work.

Memory tip

Think of a place where children spend their day with caregivers.

Word Origin

Root: day

Base: day
day careday-care

Usage

80%Spoken
20%Written