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
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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.
Parents Scott and Louisa, from Helston in Cornwall, sought private OIT for their five-year-old daughter Carey after she suffered an "extremely frightening" anaphylactic reaction as a toddler.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
But in a town full of passionate belief, Lucia was willing to share that his toddler cast a refreshing vote of indifference.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
The father of two was out visiting relatives with his partner, their three-week-old baby and their 18-month old toddler on Sunday.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
I’m sleeping in if I can, which I can’t because I have a toddler, but let’s say I can sleep ’til 10.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
Somkit took a deep breath, and then, very carefully, as if he were talking to a toddler, he began to explain the levels of orbs.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
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.
