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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hailey posted the same photo to her Instagram Stories soon afterwards with the child's name and a teddy bear and blue heart emoji. Kayla Grant, People.com, 13 June 2025 The picture plays at Stitch’s pace, every scene an exercise in chaos — which counterintuitively undoes this destroy-everything-in-sight teddy bear’s singularity. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 May 2025 Fans could also pose for photos in front of a giant teddy bear with the musician’s name etched on its foot. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2025 Instead, the 80 giant hedges here take the shape of giraffes, lions, elephants, and teddy bears. Blair West, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2025 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 24 Jun. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!