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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There is nothing wrong with the classics, like roses, chocolates or a teddy bear. Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026 In the center of Good’s memorial, a man gingerly brushed snow from cardboard signs, shook out bouquets of flowers and wiped off teddy bears. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026 At the welcome center, the Vance children got credentials on lanyards and souvenir Ralph Lauren teddy bear Olympics pins. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026 Heartbroken neighbors brought a teddy bear, candles and her favorite candy – white chocolate – to the intersection of 23rd and Bath avenues. Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 6 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 10 Feb. 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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