teddy bear

noun

ted·​dy bear ˈte-dē-ˌber How to pronounce teddy bear (audio)
: a stuffed toy bear

Examples of teddy bear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Authorities placed hundreds of letters, teddy bears and bouquets of flowers for the fire victims beneath an igloo to protect them from snowfall. Reuters, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026 An igloo-like tarpaulin now covers the mound of flowers, teddy bears and lit candles outside Le Constellation bar in the ski resort, to protect the makeshift memorial from the falling snow. CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026 The plot revolves around the terrifying takeover of the family pet, a teddy bear-hugging chimpanzee named Ben. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026 That option is reportedly keeping his beloved teddy bears away. Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for teddy bear

Word History

Etymology

Teddy, nickname of Theodore Roosevelt; from a cartoon depicting the president sparing the life of a bear cub while hunting

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of teddy bear was in 1905

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Teddy bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teddy%20bear. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

teddy bear

noun
ted·​dy bear ˈted-ē- How to pronounce teddy bear (audio)
: a stuffed toy bear

More from Merriam-Webster on teddy bear

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