nanny

¹ American  

[nan-ee] / ˈnæn i /

noun

plural

nannies

1. a person, usually with special training, employed to care for children in a household.

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Nanny ² American  

[nan-ee] / ˈnæn i /

noun

1. a female given name.

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nanny British  

/ ˈnænɪ /

noun

1. a nurse or nursemaid for children

2. 1. any person or thing regarded as treating people like children, esp by being patronizing or overprotective

   2. ( as modifier )

      the nanny state

3. a child's word for grandmother

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verb

1. (intr) to nurse or look after someone else's children

2. (tr) to be overprotective towards

Etymology

Origin of nanny

1785–95; nursery word; compare Welsh nain grandmother, Greek nánna aunt, Russian nyánya nursemaid

Example Sentences

When the gold medal was confirmed, she embraced her two boys, who are both deaf, and the nanny of her children.

From Salon

Miskiw, who has since passed away, had offered a story about a dispute between the actor Sadie Frost Law and her nanny.

From BBC

The weekly cost of a nanny, meanwhile, averaged $936 a week last year.

From Barron's

"My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies … We had lunch on the island. That is true. For an hour."

From BBC

“I’m a nanny, and I pick up a couple of kids from their preschool and I know and love so many kids with parents in pretty tenuous situations,” said McElroy, who is Irish American.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• au pair
• governess