nanny

¹ American  

[nan-ee] / ˈnæn i /

noun

plural

nannies

1. a person, usually with special training, employed to care for children in a household.

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Nanny ² American  

[nan-ee] / ˈnæn i /

noun

1. a female given name.

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nanny British  

/ ˈnænɪ /

noun

1. a nurse or nursemaid for children

2. 1. any person or thing regarded as treating people like children, esp by being patronizing or overprotective

   2. ( as modifier )

      the nanny state

3. a child's word for grandmother

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verb

1. (intr) to nurse or look after someone else's children

2. (tr) to be overprotective towards

Etymology

Origin of nanny

1785–95; nursery word; compare Welsh nain grandmother, Greek nánna aunt, Russian nyánya nursemaid

Example Sentences

In reality, aside from Zamora, only three others were listed on the company’s payroll: his now ex-wife, her brother and the couple’s nanny.

From The Wall Street Journal

In fact only Zamora Yrala himself, his then wife, her brother and the family's nanny were ever on the payroll, the court heard.

From BBC

When the gold medal was confirmed, she embraced her two boys, who are both deaf, and the nanny of her children.

From Salon

Miskiw, who has since passed away, had offered a story about a dispute between the actor Sadie Frost Law and her nanny.

From BBC

The weekly cost of a nanny, meanwhile, averaged $936 a week last year.

From Barron's

Related Words

• au pair
• governess