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

After steadily increasing over the past four years, the cost of day care for one child now exceeds one month’s rent for many families, the note added, citing Labor Department data. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025

Try to get them outside for a few minutes of fresh air and natural light before day care or school. —Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025

Indeed, Clyde, 11 months, has even made a friend for life at day care in the shape of Franklin the boxer dog. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

The Fond du Lac Police Department said the baby’s injury was discovered when they were picked up from the day care and taken to a hospital. —Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 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