diaper

American  

[dahy-per, dahy-uh-per] / ˈdaɪ pər, ˈdaɪ ə pər /

noun

1. a piece of cloth or other absorbent material folded and worn as underpants by a baby not yet toilet-trained.

2. Also called diaper cloth.  a linen or cotton fabric with a woven pattern of small, constantly repeated figures, as diamonds.

3. Also called diaper pattern.  such a pattern, originally used in the Middle Ages in weaving silk and gold.

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verb (used with object)

1. to put a diaper on.

2. to ornament with a diaperlike pattern.

diaper British  

/ ˈdaɪəpə /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): nappy.  a piece of soft material, esp towelling or a disposable material, wrapped around a baby in order to absorb its excrement

2. 1. a woven pattern on fabric consisting of a small repeating design, esp diamonds

   2. fabric having such a pattern

   3. such a pattern, used as decoration

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verb

1. (tr) to decorate with such a pattern

Other Word Forms

• undiapered adjective

Etymology

Origin of diaper

1300–50; Middle English diapre < Anglo-French dia(s)p(r)e < Medieval Latin diasprus made of diaper < Medieval Greek díaspros pure white, equivalent to Greek di- di- ³ ( def. ) + Medieval Greek áspros white

Example Sentences

But Tereza is upset that the law has finally come for her, insisting that she put on a diaper.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

It has also achieved the breakthrough of managing to use the pulp, which makes up the bulk of a diaper, to make new ones.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Israel handed over the diaper bag he’d been carrying around and the baby’s bottles.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

And in the long run, as the company reworks its manufacturing processes, the company says the new diaper may end up being cheaper to make than older models.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Delsa and Norma were supposed to help, but most of the time they refused, especially when I tried to get them to do the unpleasant tasks like changing Raymond’s diaper or scrubbing the rice pot.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

Related Words

• nappy