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

Skip the fancy stroller, new parents want cash for down payments and day care. —Brianna Crane, Axios, 19 Oct. 2024

To achieve that goal, Matsui advised, Japan’s government would need to introduce a raft of new policies to improve parental-leave benefits, expand access to day care, and mandate equal pay for equal work. —Beth Greenfield, Fortune Asia, 7 Oct. 2024

Spike in costs Official data shows day care and preschool costs — already frustratingly high for many families — rose more quickly than the overall inflation rate over the past year. —Julie Chabanas, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2024

First, children are in close contact with one another at school and day care. —Faye Chiu, CNN, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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