day care

American  

[dey kair] / ˈdeɪ ˌkɛər /

noun

1. 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.

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adjective

1. 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

Many provided little more than glorified day care.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

The $35 average hourly rate for a home health aide was only up 3%, assisted living was up 5% and adult day care was actually down 5%.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

Her oldest daughter is in transitional kindergarten and out of day care, meaning that Quintanilla had to start from scratch on the waitlist.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

A majority favor universal day care, while just 18% oppose it.

From Salon • Jan. 25, 2026

I clutch the food basket to my chest, hurrying down the steps to the left to day care.

From "Towers Falling" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Related Words

• child care
• daycare
• nursery
• nursery school
• preschool