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
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.
The online creator purchased two bottles, one shaped like a gingerbread man and another like a teddy bear. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025 The Hello Kitty holiday merchandise and the glass teddy bear cups sold out on release day, but they are expected to restock throughout the season. Katie Wiseman, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Nov. 2025 Place remaining ½ cup chocolate chips randomly on teddy bear faces, avoiding mouth area. Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 On a plywood bookshelf above the twin bed sat a dozen teddy bears of varying age and quality, some patchy and furless. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 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 18 Nov. 2025.

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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