playmate

American  

[pley-meyt] / ˈpleɪˌmeɪt /

noun

• playmates
  plural

1. a companion, especially of a child, in play or recreation.

2. Informal. a social companion or lover; girlfriend or boyfriend.

   He showed up at the nightclub with his new playmate.

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playmate British  

/ ˈpleɪˌmeɪt /

noun

1. a friend or partner in play or recreation

   childhood playmates

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• playmates
  plural

Etymology

Origin of playmate

First recorded in 1635–45; play + mate ¹

Explanation

A playmate is a child's pal or buddy. If you grew up in a rural area, far from your closest neighbors, your main playmates may have been your own brothers and sisters. Parents worry when their kids don't have many playmates — although some children simply prefer solitary activities to group games with friends. Babysitting one little girl might seem like an easy job, until six of her favorite playmates come over to play hide-and-seek indoors. Playmate was coined in the 1600s, from play and mate, "comrade or companion."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

playmate playmates

Because when Caligiuri was growing up in Diamond Bar, the only playmate he could find was the door of his garage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

The clip highlighted an obvious imbalance between a male figure – disingenuously portrayed as a fellow playmate – in a position of power to a teenage girl.

From Salon ● Mar. 23, 2024

But in the meantime, mother chimps continue to be their offspring's primary playmate, tickling, chasing, playing 'airplane'.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 14, 2024

It can provide a playmate for your kids, a jogging buddy for you and a loyal companion for everyone to cuddle with on the couch.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 18, 2023

He went from being Thomas Jefferson’s childhood playmate to becoming his personal servant—which meant, in Jefferson’s words, to “shave, dress and follow me on horseback.”

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

His playmates have nicknamed him “petit éclair” for his soft heart, which they mistake for weakness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

This time, in late September, the rabbit was still there, but it had no playmates.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2025

"But when they're doing that, they are also limiting the ability of their young ones to play with others, and the moms become the primary playmates," said Sabbi.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 14, 2024

They’re playmates, academic rivals and childhood sweethearts, as signaled by a lovely shot of them riding in the backseat of a car, Na Young sleepily resting her head on Hae Sung’s shoulder.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2023

Then Esme wandered off, searching for playmates among the children of the stars.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman