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.
Legal observers stand for hours in the bitter cold outside schools, childcare centers, and businesses. David Ostendorf, Time, 29 Jan. 2026 These two concerns are intertwined, as wages are failing to keep up with the increasing cost of childcare. Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Investigators and court records have raised concerns about childcare providers that refused inspections, failed to respond to scheduled visits, and reported enrollment numbers that did not align with reality. Jennifer Nassour, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026 The president also vowed to revoke federal funding to states over a wealth of issues such as childcare and immigration policy. Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 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 1 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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