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 straw-stuffed bear, thought to have been made by the famous German teddy bear maker Steiff in about 1908, was spotted by the Cotswold Auction Company during an estate clearance.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

She bought lollipops and a teddy bear, and by 10 a.m. she had set up shop outside a campus dining hall where she consoled students Sunday morning with offers of “free mom hugs.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025

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

From BBC • May 25, 2025

“Jim was like a bearded hippie, goofball, warmhearted teddy bear in Birkenstocks. It’s such a charming performance that shows his range. You can’t get further from Tony Soprano than Albert in ‘Enough Said.’

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2025

“Francisco Alvarez, if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I promise that I’ll tell all your friends that you still sleep with a teddy bear by your pillow.”

From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez