childcare

American

[chahyld-kair] / ˈtʃaɪldˌkɛər /

noun

the care or supervision of another's child, especially at a day-care center.

adjective

Also child-care of, relating to, or providing childcare.

childcare British

/ ˈtʃaɪldˌkɛə /

noun

care provided for children without homes (or with a seriously disturbed home life) by a local authority
care and supervision of children whose parents are working, provided by a childminder or local authority

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of childcare

First recorded in 1910–15; child + care

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:

childcare

Bleiker, who joined FIU in 2001, has played a central role in the research team examining school readiness among Miami children receiving subsidized childcare.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

Early on, Plaid came under pressure to spell out how it would deliver its landmark childcare policy, which would see free care expanded over a four-year period.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

They certainly won’t advocate for universal affordable childcare.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

It won the election on a platform of challenging Westminster to give Wales more control over its own affairs, a promise of a major programme to boost childcare, and to cut waiting times.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Being there: creating music-making opportunities in a childcare centre.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023