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
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:
A soccer dome opening in the hometown of Erling Haaland when he was a toddler was the equivalent of the Cavern Club opening in Liverpool when The Beatles were teenagers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
It isn’t the first time Play-Doh has attempted to peddle its squishy wares outside of the toddler aisle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
During the call, employees allegedly said they did not think the toddler needed to be picked up early.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
When he was a toddler it was lining them up and organising them.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
“Ah. Part of an Oreo. A client yesterday had her toddler with her. She was eating cookies and moving my stuff all around. Thanks for catching that.”
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
However, if babies or toddlers are traveling internationally, those age 1 to 3 years old should get their second dose of the measles vaccine, California health officials say.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
But their hope for endless playmates goes wrong when they get manhandled by toddlers and held hostage by Lotso, leading to a climactic escape from an incinerator.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
One has living-room furniture, and another has a small table for toddlers and a toy train.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
“Texas has always viewed counties as rural toddlers that can’t be trusted with full powers,” said Robert Paterson, a professor at UT-Austin who specializes in land use and environmental planning.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
Within the average, older children ages eight to eighteen spent nearly double the time with media than toddlers.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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.
