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

For example, former Hollinger International CEO Conrad Black dissolved the boundary between corporate assets and personal playthings to the point that he was indicted for fraud. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 July 2026

More than 30 years after the first Toy Story, Pixar is still finding ways to refresh these playthings. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 19 June 2026

The private terminal isn’t cheap and may be viewed as yet another plaything for the wealthy in South Florida. — Miami Herald, 18 June 2026

But when playthings come in every size and shape, storage bins have a way of multiplying just as quickly. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 10 June 2026

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