plaything

noun

play·​thing ˈplā-ˌthiŋ 

1

: toy sense 1

2

: toy sense 3

Examples of plaything in a Sentence

VCRs were once the expensive, high-tech playthings of the rich.

We mustn't let the environment become the plaything of oil companies.

The emperor used people as his playthings.

Recent Examples on the Web

But, as Michtom discovered with the Teddy bear, the priorities of the new childhood, coupled with the growing prosperity of American society, had also created a demand for material playthings. —Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026

Over Trump’s past year, what originally looked like an effort to make the government his personal plaything has drifted distinctly toward doctrinal and operational fascism. —Jonathan Rauch, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026

Bernhard Goetz believed that these four young men were treating him as a plaything. —Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026

Now, Pixar is opening up the Toy box a fifth time for a new movie, which has Woody, Buzz, and the gang facing off against the most diabolical foe a child’s plaything could imagine: screen time. —James Grebey, Vulture, 29 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for plaything

• bowstring
• coiling
• downswing
• drawstring
• forewing
• hamstring
• lapwing
• mainspring
• offspring
• shoestring
• texting
• upswing

Kids Definition

plaything

noun

play·​thing -ˌthiŋ 

: toy entry 1 sense 2