day care

noun

variants or less commonly daycare 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
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.
Your local Area Agency on Aging can refer you to many local services like adult day care or legal help. Kat McGowan, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025 Kimmanthudawa said the day care has given her the flexibility to still care for her son while earning an income. Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025 Surveillance footage from the day care first showed Pitzer and another aide trying to bandage the 11-year-old’s forehead while the child was sitting on the floor, according to authorities. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2025 Sheriff’s officials said the state department’s Community Care Licensing Division has opened an administrative investigation into the Live Oak day care. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for day care

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of day care was in 1898

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Day care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/day%20care. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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