baby talk

noun

1

a

: the consciously imperfect or altered speech used by adults in speaking to small children

b

: the syntactically imperfect speech or phonetically modified forms used by small children learning to talk

2

: oversimplified speech or writing

Examples of baby talk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With guitar in hand, Sandler sings and does baby talk in the way that audiences have come to expect from his work. —Will Digravio, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025

May 2024: Another round of baby talk hits the internet after a radio DJ repeats the rumor and it’s picked up by Perez Hilton. —Stacey Leasca, Glamour, 21 Jan. 2025

Keep things simple but avoid using too much baby talk. —Alex Vance, Parents, 31 Oct. 2024

Interpretation isn’t baby talk but, rather, works for all audiences except children, theology professors, lapsed Mormons, and resolute cynics. —Brian T. Allen, National Review, 20 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for baby talk

• aftershock
• antiknock
• arawak
• hollyhock
• interlock
• isopach
• manioc
• shuttlecock
• tomahawk
• weathercock
• alcock
• beanstalk

Kids Definition

baby talk

noun

1

: the speech used by very young children learning to talk

2

: speech like baby talk sometimes used by adults to speak to very young children

Medical Definition

baby talk

noun

1

: the syntactically imperfect speech or phonetically modified forms used by small children learning to talk

2

: the consciously imperfect or altered speech often used by adults in speaking to small children