toddler
Americannoun
noun
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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
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 experience was largely ruined by an unhappy toddler in a Paw Patrol chair.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
One of the nurses, who came to the U.S. from the Philippines as a toddler, said she applied for renewal on Dec. 1.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
Now she is the mother of an infant and a toddler – both girls.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
Within an hour, I conjured a performance review, a project postmortem and a meal plan engineered to satisfy a picky toddler and use up every veggie in my fridge.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
And I cried like a toddler in front of everyone.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
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.
