toddler
Americannoun
noun
-
a young child, usually one between the ages of one and two and a half
-
(modifier) designed or suitable for a toddler
toddler suits
Other Word Forms
- toddlerhood noun
Etymology
Origin of toddler
Explanation
Use the noun toddler to describe a small child who is just learning how to walk. A toddler is older than a baby but not quite old enough for elementary school. It's the time in a child's life when she reaches all kinds of milestones: walking, talking, playing with other kids, and more. The word toddler was first used in 1793, and it developed out of the Scottish word toddle, or "to run or walk with short, unsteady steps."
Vocabulary lists containing toddler
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 7–August 13, 2021
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for April 22–April 28, 2023
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Nissan was carrying a man, woman, a female toddler and the 3-month-old, a CHP spokesperson told newsgathering organization OnScene.TV.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
A toddler sat on her mother’s lap, clutching a rosary.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
Like a giddy toddler toying with a puppy - now you see the ball, now it's skipping into your net.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
Fernanda, a Florida restaurant worker, made an agonizing decision after the father of her children was arrested and deported: She would send their toddler son and 4-year-old daughter to Guatemala to live with him.
From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026
“Don’t sell yourself short. You not only saved that toddler, you also saved me. I must admit, I was suddenly, and shockingly, frozen in fear.”
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
