toddler
Americannoun
-
toddlers
plural
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
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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.
See Examples For:
They had been living in nearby Danvers in a two-bedroom condo unit they’d bought in 2020 and wanted extra space for their toddler and their dog.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
But hey, defending a toddler is a good start.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026
But the mother of the toddler said she was still waiting for answers two months later.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The gains were partially offset by the company’s dolls and infant, toddler and preschool categories, where gross billings fell 5% and 11%, respectively, primarily due to declines in Barbie and Fisher-Price.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
About how weird it is to have this woman who partly raised me be so not herself that we have to watch her like a toddler.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
The panel of doctors, academics, youth representatives and parents recommended no screens at all for babies and toddlers, and that children up to 12 should only be allowed "age-appropriate social media" under adult supervision.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
Nearby, a woman with timeless preschool-teacher energy played the accordion for a ring of toddlers as shoppers crowded around nearly white ears of sweet corn.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
The results suggest those who were toddlers during sugar rationing had a 23% lower risk of dementia.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Potty-training consultants, who work intensively with toddlers over several days, charge anywhere from $600 to $4,500.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
All of the kids here had grown up together — their grandparents had been toddlers together.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
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.
