teddy bear

American  

noun

1. a toy bear, especially a stuffed one.

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teddy bear British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: teddy.  a stuffed toy bear made from soft or fluffy material

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Etymology

Origin of teddy bear

1905–10, after Theodore Roosevelt, called Teddy, who is said to have saved the life of a bear cub while hunting

Example Sentences

The men first met only after Milne bought a teddy bear at Harrods for his infant son’s first birthday in 1921 and, during a rainy holiday, wrote a few poems for children.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Graham deserves the Emmy for the last scene, where Eddie goes into his son’s room, tucks in his teddy bear and whispers, “I’m sorry, son. I should’ve done better.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2025

Mr Goodsell, 67, described it as an "absolute tragedy" while placing a teddy bear at the park in tribute on Sunday.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2025

A teddy bear and flowers were seen laid near the properties on Sunday.

From BBC • May 25, 2025

I felt a special affection for the green teddy bear, since he was by my side that first day; he helped me.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai