patty-cake
noun
pat·ty-cake
ˈpa-tē-ˌkāk 
variants
or pat-a-cake
ˈpa-də-ˌkāk
ˈpat-ə-
: a game in which two participants (such as mother and child) clap their hands together to the rhythm of an accompanying nursery rhyme
Examples of patty-cake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some played patty-cake to pass the time before doors opened, while others sported Paramore tote bags and Bleachers T-shirts.
—
Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
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.
Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patty-cake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patty-cake. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share