Illustration of diaper
- diaper 2
1
: a fabric with a distinctive pattern:
a
: a rich silk fabric
b
: a soft usually white linen or cotton fabric used for tablecloths or towels
2
: an allover pattern consisting of one or more small repeated units of design (such as geometric figures) connecting with one another or growing out of one another with continuously flowing or straight lines
3
: a basic garment for infants consisting of a folded cloth or other absorbent material drawn up between the legs and fastened about the waist
also
: a similar garment especially for incontinent adults
diapered; diapering
ˈdī-p(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to ornament with diaper designs
2
: to put on or change the diaper of (an infant)
Examples of diaper in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
For younger babies, inverted zippers or double zippers are best for late night diaper changes.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 3 Apr. 2024
The Israeli supermodel has come a long way since posing in diapers as a toddler.
—Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The skin on her tush and legs has rashes and is peeling where the tight material of the diaper rubs — a skin irritation that won't go away.
—Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
Each guest was asked to bring a box of diapers, a favorite children’s book and a donation to help cover the surrogate expenses.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
Most of the signs and posters were made from brown cardboard, diaper boxes and other household items.
—Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024
Police handcuffed him and searched his two children — their diapers removed without permission, White’s lawsuit alleges.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2024
But their baby shower registry calls for fish, not diapers.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2023
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab evaluates all types of clothing and accessories for parents and parents-to-be, from maternity leggings, maternity jeans and maternity workout clothes to nursing bras to diaper bags and more.
—Good Housekeeping, 2 Mar. 2023
HealthySteps specialists, often social workers, accompany families with children below 3 on their pediatric visits, monitoring and supporting the babies' development and helping with everything from counselor referrals to diaper drop-offs.
—USA Today, 9 June 2022
This person should have your full authority to wipe the noses of users and diaper the salespeople when needed.
—Gene Marks, Forbes, 7 June 2021
Families spend $75 a month to diaper one child, or 8% of a full-time minimum wage salary, and prices are expected to go up.
—Jennifer Randles, Time, 6 May 2021
And among the Black fathers who do live with their children, a higher percentage of them bathe, dress or diaper their kids compared with White dads, the study found.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2020
The baby shower host had trivia games (guessing lines from popular children's books) and activities for the soon-to-be parents (diapering a doll blindfolded).
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 19 May 2020
The more intense care required at this age — diapering, bottle feeding — also can’t be done without almost continual close contact and requires more adults per child, increasing the inherent risk.
—Marshall Allen, ProPublica, 23 May 2020
Noun
Instead of his gear and gadgets, he is armed with only a diaper bag.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
For younger babies, inverted zippers or double zippers are best for late night diaper changes.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 3 Apr. 2024
The Israeli supermodel has come a long way since posing in diapers as a toddler.
—Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The skin on her tush and legs has rashes and is peeling where the tight material of the diaper rubs — a skin irritation that won't go away.
—Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
Each guest was asked to bring a box of diapers, a favorite children’s book and a donation to help cover the surrogate expenses.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
Most of the signs and posters were made from brown cardboard, diaper boxes and other household items.
—Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024
Police handcuffed him and searched his two children — their diapers removed without permission, White’s lawsuit alleges.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2024
But their baby shower registry calls for fish, not diapers.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
From laundry detergents to diaper pail deodorizers, Arm & Hammer Baby is committed to ensuring that only the highest quality ingredients are used.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2023
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab evaluates all types of clothing and accessories for parents and parents-to-be, from maternity leggings, maternity jeans and maternity workout clothes to nursing bras to diaper bags and more.
—Good Housekeeping, 2 Mar. 2023
HealthySteps specialists, often social workers, accompany families with children below 3 on their pediatric visits, monitoring and supporting the babies' development and helping with everything from counselor referrals to diaper drop-offs.
—USA Today, 9 June 2022
This person should have your full authority to wipe the noses of users and diaper the salespeople when needed.
—Gene Marks, Forbes, 7 June 2021
Families spend $75 a month to diaper one child, or 8% of a full-time minimum wage salary, and prices are expected to go up.
—Jennifer Randles, Time, 6 May 2021
And among the Black fathers who do live with their children, a higher percentage of them bathe, dress or diaper their kids compared with White dads, the study found.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2020
The baby shower host had trivia games (guessing lines from popular children's books) and activities for the soon-to-be parents (diapering a doll blindfolded).
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 19 May 2020
The more intense care required at this age — diapering, bottle feeding — also can’t be done without almost continual close contact and requires more adults per child, increasing the inherent risk.
—Marshall Allen, ProPublica, 23 May 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diaper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near diaper
Cite this Entry
“Diaper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaper. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diaper
1 of 2 noun
di·a·per
ˈdī-(ə-)pər
1
: a usually white linen or cotton fabric woven in a pattern formed by the repetition of a simple design
also
: the design on such cloth
2
: a garment for infants consisting of a piece of absorbent material drawn up between the legs and fastened about the waist
diaper
2 of 2 verb
diapered; diapering
-p(ə-)riŋ
1
: to decorate with diaper designs
2
: to put a diaper on
diaper a baby
Medical Definition
diaper
1 of 2 noun
di·a·per
ˈdī(-ə)-pər
: a basic garment especially for infants consisting of a folded cloth or other absorbent material drawn up between the legs and fastened about the waist
diaper
2 of 2 transitive verb
diapered; diapering
-p(ə-)riŋ
: to put on or change the diaper of (an infant)
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