day care

noun

variants: or less commonly daycare \ ˈdā-ˌker

\ or day-care

Definition of 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 centerday care workersday-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

Earlier that afternoon, about a dozen children had gathered in a small day care center at an apartment complex next door to the gas station and sketched on colorful paper sheets set on the carpeted floor. — Marc Ramirez, Dallas News, "Dozens gather to remember 13-year-old slain in Pleasant Grove as Dallas' violent crime surge continues," 5 June 2019 The legislation does not include: A provision to require that home day care centers are lead-safe. — Rachel Dissell, cleveland.com, "Cleveland City Council legislation aims for “systemic change” in approach to lead poisoning," 3 June 2019 The research doesn’t offer specifics on how much child care is too much, but shows both positive and negative effects increasing as a child spends more total hours in day care. — Sue Shellenbarger, WSJ, "The Minefield of Talking With Your Children About Sexting," 20 Oct. 2018 More: Prosecutor won't file charges in assault on 1-year-old at day careMore: Shut out of Build-a-Bear Pay Your Age Day? — Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star, "Parents of baby injured at daycare file lawsuit alleging he was 'beaten or attacked'," 12 July 2018 An Illinois appeals court has upheld the murder conviction of a former day care center worker in the death of a toddler in her care. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "New trial rejected for former day care center worker convicted of killing a toddler in her care," 11 June 2018 Media: WBAL Rocha said once adults with Down syndrome age out of the public school system at 22, their families often have limited options for their care and that some just stay at home and watch TV while others are sent to adult day care centers. — Tracy Maness, Houston Chronicle, "Down syndrome students learn by selling lemonade," 21 May 2018 Wednesday morning, charges were brought against 30-year-old Marie Millette, who still found ways to earn money babysitting after being fired from her day care after abuse allegations. — Jason Law, ajc, "Former day care worker 'force fed' children to point of vomiting, DCF report says," 12 May 2018 The 32-year-old was arrested last year after police found seven young children unattended at her unlicensed day care Little Giggles, KTVZ-TV reported. — Mary Bowerman, USA TODAY, "Oregon day care worker gets 21 years for drugging kids with melatonin so she could tan, workout," 12 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'day care.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.