day care

noun

variants or less commonly daycare

ˈdā-ˌker 

or day-care

1

: supervision of and care for children or physically or mentally disabled adults that is provided during the day by a person or organization

—often used before another noun

a day care center

day care workers

day-care facilities

2

: a program, facility, or organization offering day care

a child enrolled in day care

Examples of day care in a Sentence

She left work early to pick up her son from day care.

Recent Examples on the Web

But legislators have succeeded in preventing HOAs from banning in-home day cares. —Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 18 June 2025

Best Pet day care and Pet groomer: Wagging Lounge Dog Resort 9315 Snowden River Pkwy, Columbia. —Kiersten Hacker, Baltimore Sun, 17 June 2025

The inclusion of caregivers is what distinguishes memory cafes from other programs that serve people with cognitive impairment, like adult day care. —Lydia McFarlane, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025

Missouri Secretary of State business records show the day care is owned by Spring Gray, who resigned on May 20 after serving as Ward 2 City Councilwoman for the City of Park Hills. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for day care

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

Kids Definition

day care

noun

1

: supervision of and care for children or disabled adults that is provided during the day by a person or organization

2

: a program, facility, or organization offering day care