day care

noun

variants or less commonly daycare

ˈdā-ˌker 

or day-care

1

: supervision of and care for children or physically or mentally disabled adults that is provided during the day by a person or organization

—often used before another noun

a day care center

day care workers

day-care facilities

2

: a program, facility, or organization offering day care

a child enrolled in day care

Examples of day care in a Sentence

She left work early to pick up her son from day care.

Recent Examples on the Web

Twenty years later, the former day care owner has transformed her experience with displacement into a mission to help others in crisis. —Dian Zhang, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025

In the future, Hintz wants to continue giving the indoor spaces a facelift with things like new locker rooms, food and beverage offerings and possibly day care. —Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025

That figure includes the cost of day care, extra rent, food, clothing, transportation and health insurance, although prices can vary widely by location. —Mike Winters, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025

For some of them, doggy day cares were overstimulating or a poor fit. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for day care

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

day care

noun

1

: supervision of and care for children or disabled adults that is provided during the day by a person or organization

2

: a program, facility, or organization offering day care