playpen

noun

play·​pen ˈplā-ˌpen How to pronounce playpen (audio)
: a portable usually collapsible enclosure in which a baby or young child may play

called also play yard

Examples of playpen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Documents said police detained Harris on Jan. 5 and brought her to the department headquarters, where Harris admitted to bottle feeding her infant daughter Nyquil and melatonin before propping her in an upward position on the mattress and then placing her 17-month-old daughter in a playpen. The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Not only did readers send checks and gift cards for him, but several also showed up in our lobby with boxes of baby clothes, a playpen and this — a giant duffel bag of disposable diapers. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 25 Dec. 2023 The insert is essentially a second layer of the playpen that keeps the baby higher than the floor of the playpen. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 16 Dec. 2023 There are technically two bassinets with this playard: a portable free-standing bassinet that lifts off the top and a newborn bassinet insert that fits directly into the body of the playpen. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 16 Dec. 2023 Hannah Beller, 16 months, dies after getting entangled in a window blind cord Elizabeth Raver puts her 16-month-old daughter, Hannah Beller, down for a nap in a playpen at a beach house on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where the family is on vacation. Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 20 Dec. 2023 This playpen also includes sandbags and stakes for windy campsites, beach hangs, or extra wild play sessions — a feature most outdoor play yards need, but few offer. Mandy Harris, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2023 The upper deck, which was once home to beanbags, mattresses, and a playpen for the children, now folds down to become a mobile stage. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2023 For instance, a bassinet insert in a playpen can be used for many uses, like travel, playtime, and even storage, and as a changing station. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 16 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'playpen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of playpen was in 1902

Dictionary Entries Near playpen

Cite this Entry

“Playpen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playpen. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

playpen

noun
play·​pen ˈplā-ˌpen How to pronounce playpen (audio)
: a portable enclosure in which a baby or young child is placed to play

More from Merriam-Webster on playpen

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