playpen

[ pley-pen ]

noun

1. a small enclosure, usually portable, in which a young child can play safely alone without constant supervision.
2. playground ( defs 2, 3 ).

playpen

/ ˈpleɪˌpɛn /

noun

1. a small enclosure, usually portable, in which a young child can be left to play in safety

Word History and Origins

Origin of playpen¹

First recorded in 1930–35; play + pen ²

Example Sentences

If you like to hit the road and travel at times, you may want to invest in a portable playpen that is easy to transport—you’ll be able to get your adventures in while having peace of mind that your pooch is in a safe place.

From Popular-Science

I reached into the back seat to take my 6-month-old daughter and 1-year-old son out of the playpen that was perched in front of trash bags filled with our clothes, and into my arms.

From Time

However, if the object was familiar, meaning it came from their playpen, dogs and wolves approached it about the same amount.

From Popular-Science

It can easily adhere to the sides, tray, or hood of your stroller as well as your little one’s car seat, playpen, or baby gym.

From Popular-Science

In a clever twist, the team also built an actual playpen that completely mimicked the VR world, to see how the rats’ brains reacted between VR and the real world.

From Singularity Hub 

The children were kept in a large playpen with the radio tuned to a news station for company.

From The Daily Beast

Then I bought at Montgomery Ward a playpen for about $11 for the kid.

From Project Gutenberg

There was the bare necessities; there was no playpen or crib for the baby.

From Project Gutenberg

I say it is not necessary for a young couple to have a playpen for a baby.

From Project Gutenberg

And I will point out the character of my son, and what I am saying about the playpen and so on.

From Project Gutenberg

They'd been standing for it ever since I could remember anything outside my own playpen, which, of course, hadn't been too long.

From Project Gutenberg