babyproof

1 of 2

verb

ba·​by·​proof ˈbā-bē-ˌprüf How to pronounce babyproof (audio)
babyproofed; babyproofing

transitive verb

: to make (something) safe for infants and young children by eliminating or minimizing potential hazards
When our oldest child learned to walk we finally had to babyproof the house.Jeff Foxworthy

babyproof

2 of 2

adjective

: made safe for infants and young children by the elimination or reduction of potential hazards
Ben and Jessa's house was not yet babyproof, which meant either they had to fix that before 5 p.m. that day when the other kids showed up, or they would risk those kids getting into lots of things they shouldn't.Elizabeth Durand Streisand
especially : designed to prevent opening or access by infants and young children
Keep garbage in containers with babyproof lids. Kim Zarzour

Examples of babyproof in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Asked whether the agency would now babyproof the fence, Mayhair referred the question to the White House. Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'babyproof.' 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

Verb

1921, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of babyproof was in 1881

Dictionary Entries Near babyproof

Cite this Entry

“Babyproof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/babyproof. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!