nanny
noun
a person, usually with special training, employed to care for children in a household.
nanny
1 American
[nan-ee]
/ ˈnæn i /
noun
-
nannies
plural
Nanny
2
American
[nan-ee]
/ ˈnæn i /
noun
nanny
British
/ ˈnænɪ /
noun
-
a nurse or nursemaid for children
-
-
any person or thing regarded as treating people like children, esp by being patronizing or overprotective
-
( as modifier )
the nanny state
-
-
a child's word for grandmother
verb
-
(intr) to nurse or look after someone else's children
-
(tr) to be overprotective towards
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of nanny
1785–95; nursery word; compare Welsh nain grandmother, Greek nánna aunt, Russian nyánya nursemaid
Explanation
A nanny is a full-time babysitter, someone whose job is taking care of a family's children. If you're a lucky kid, your nanny will be like Mary Poppins or Maria from "A Sound of Music." Being a nanny goes beyond hourly childcare — a nanny is usually the person who spends the most time with a baby or child. A nanny might feed, bathe, play with, and otherwise care for a toddler, or drive an older child to ballet lessons. Most nannies work in the child's home, sometimes even living there. A completely different definition of nanny is "female goat." The word's origin is probably as a nickname for Ann, a generic woman's name, though it's also traditionally used for "close female adult," such as an aunt.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
When their nanny dies suddenly, Steven posts the listing for a replacement through an au pair agency.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
That equates to more than $17,000 a year for daycare or more than $45,000 a year for a nanny.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Wealth Management, said he and his wife have experienced the puzzle play of childcare, including using daycare, a part-time nanny, help from family members and flexible work schedules.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Landis, the Peacock Parent founder, said when she fell sick after having her newborn, the nanny brought her tea and orange juice without being asked.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
“You don’t still need a nanny even now. As you get older...well, eventually I’ll need to go help some other family.”
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Astin succeeds The Nanny series star Fran Drescher, who steered the organization through the Hollywood strikes of 2023 during her four-year tenure.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2025
Throughout the 90s, Hogan's popularity transcended the wrestling ring, appearing in films including Mr Nanny and Suburban Commando.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2025
The women taking Hidalgo’s course as part of We Rise Nanny Training in Brooklyn have no intention of being defenseless.
From Seattle Times ● May 15, 2024
"The Nanny" veteran's speech fired up the 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members going on strike after 98% of the union's membership authorized the action in June.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2023
Yo’ Nanny wouldn’t harm a hair uh yo’ head.
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
While healing from their losses, they hustled, working as caregivers, nannies, Uber drivers and house cleaners.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Alexandra Fine, a mother of three young children, spends about $85,000 a year on a team of seven that includes nannies, a home organizer, a handyman and a virtual assistant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
Aviv reports on Filipina women who move to the United States to work as nannies and send money home to their families.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Along with day camp and traditional day care, the credit can be used for expenses such as nannies and babysitters, said Andy Phillips, vice president of the Tax Institute at H&R Block.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
Tidy nannies bought Amber orb-powered toys for children in fresh-pressed school uniforms.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
