childcare

noun

child·​care ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌker How to pronounce childcare (audio)
variants or child care
: the care of children especially as a service while parents are working
Erratic week-to-week work schedules make it nearly impossible to manage a personal budget or secure childcare.David Dayen

Examples of childcare 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.
Officials said the new spots will be created through a mix of family childcare homes and early learning centers. Tim Fang, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026 Right-wing influencer Nick Shirley posted a video in December that said members of Minnesota’s large Somali community were running fake childcare centers to collect federal subsidies. Steve Karnowski, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026 For full-time mothers who often move between cooking, cleaning, childcare, remote admin tasks, and managing family schedules throughout the day, this mobility can make everyday routines more practical and less disruptive. William Jones, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026 Talking with adults is key to developing language and other skills, like controlling emotions and following rules, that set kids up for success in school, so the program wants childcare centers to improve both the number and quality of those conversations. Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for childcare

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of childcare was in 1896

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Cite this Entry

“Childcare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childcare. Accessed 7 May. 2026.

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