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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The oversized teddy bear of a man with the languid baritone, who speaks with the eloquence of a poet, the encouragement of a coach, and the comfort of a minister, came up in the legendary Night Hawk in the 1970s. Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026 No, Patrick is like a giant teddy bear. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 7 Mar. 2026 The space — across the street from 5 Points Plaza and Trader Joe’s — invites members of all skill levels in sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery, quilting, doll and teddy bear making, needle felting and painting. Samantha Gowen, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026 In these top-floor spaces, the two young princesses would play with teddy bears and toy horses. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 22 Feb. 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 29 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

teddy bear

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

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