childcare

noun

child·​care ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌker 

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

As childcare costs soar and flexibility erodes, participation of mothers with young children in the workforce has dropped nearly every month this year. —Liz Teran, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025

Her rationale is that because she’s borrowed over $20,000 to pay for her wedding, her more financially fortunate guests should help those struggling in the areas of gifts, transportation, hotel costs, childcare, elder care, etc. —Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025

TCUs also provide resources to overcome barriers such as a lack of internet access, inadequate transportation, and scarce childcare. —Marybeth Gasman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Hernandez also previously worked in the North Kansas City school district, both as a teacher and as a facilitator for afterschool and summer childcare programs, according to charging documents and a district spokesperson. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for childcare

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• compare
• cookware