Synonyms

day care

American

[dey kair] / ˈdeɪ ˌkɛər /

noun

supervised daytime care for preschool children, the elderly, or those with chronic disabilities, usually provided at a center outside the home.

Finding quality day care that we can afford has been challenging.

adjective

of, relating to, or providing day care.

daycare center;
day-care program.

Etymology

Origin of day care

First recorded in 1895–1900 for noun, and 1940–45 for adjective

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.

Many provided little more than glorified day care.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

Most caregivers do not delve into the details of the cost of a private room versus a shared room, or adult day care versus home care, until they are in the thick of it.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

“If that means that I have to sacrifice in other areas, I try to. Even sometimes my day care payments are late.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

The first time it happened, the day care received an anonymous call from a woman brusquely asking them to open the door.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2026

She used to have an office downtown, but David got kicked out of day care, so now she runs her tax- preparation business from our spare bedroom.

From "Rules" by Cynthia Lord

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