day care

noun

variants or less commonly daycare or day-care
1
: supervision of and care for children or physically or mentally disabled adults that is provided during the day by a person or organization
often used before another noun
a day care center
day care workers
day-care facilities
2
: a program, facility, or organization offering day care
a child enrolled in day care

Examples of day care in a Sentence

She left work early to pick up her son from day care.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
State officials closed the day care on May 8, 2025, after one of its employees, Gabriel Garner, was arrested on accusations of child molestation. Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Dec. 2025 The group of 10 woman sang Christmas songs at the Ramona Senior Center, Republican Women’s Christmas party and Always Sunny senior day care facility. Karla Brustad, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2025 These reductions in the child-care workforce had a big impact on mothers, who are typically the parent to step in when a nanny or day care isn’t available. Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2025 Initially, the project included 70 townhomes and an approximately 18,000-square-foot day care center. Charlotte Observer, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for day care

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of day care was in 1898

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Day care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day%20care. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

day care

noun
1
: supervision of and care for children or disabled adults that is provided during the day by a person or organization
2
: a program, facility, or organization offering day care
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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