childcare

noun

child·​care ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌker How to pronounce childcare (audio)
variants or child care
: the care of children especially as a service while parents are working
Erratic week-to-week work schedules make it nearly impossible to manage a personal budget or secure childcare.David Dayen

Examples of childcare in a Sentence

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.
Monarch also offers childcare on high-demand weekends for children ages three to six, which can also include a 90-minute group or private lesson. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026 Many working families need alternative hours that only private childcare providers can offer. Calmatters, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026 Elders, mothers, and young women played central roles as dancers, supported by firekeepers, childcare providers, and meal preparers who ensured that the women could fully engage in their sacred work. Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026 People are struggling with childcare costs. Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for childcare

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of childcare was in 1896

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Cite this Entry

“Childcare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childcare. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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