toddler
Americannoun
noun
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a young child, usually one between the ages of one and two and a half
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(modifier) designed or suitable for a toddler
toddler suits
Other Word 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.
Toddler techno plays with that contrast — an edgy genre made safe for kids.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2025
Toddler milk made up just 11% of all formula sales in the United States in 2023, but it was much more popular abroad, according to Euromonitor, which tracks sales data.
From Salon • Mar. 23, 2024
Toddler milks are labeled explicitly for children older than 12 months and “can contribute to nutritional intake and potentially fill nutrition gaps,” according to the Infant Nutrition Council of America.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 19, 2023
The second most searched-for toy recall was for Walk ‘n’ Learn Wooden Activity Toddler Walkers, receiving 5,770 searches.
From Washington Times • Jan. 4, 2023
Toddler Barbara wandered around freely with Crypto, their Airedale watchdog.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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.
