childcare
noun
child·care
ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌker 
variants
or child care
: the care of children especially as a service while parents are working
Erratic week-to-week work schedules make it nearly impossible to manage a personal budget or secure childcare.—
David Dayen
David DayenExamples of childcare in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In some places, like rural Arizona, the drive is as long as eight hours—a full day of missed work, childcare, or elder care.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
That money goes to childcare, healthcare, food, clothes, education, transportation, activities, toys, and a lot more.
—NPR, 17 Apr. 2025
Consider this: between 1990 and 2019, the median family’s income grew 140%, but the cost of prescription drugs grew about 175%, childcare more than 200%, and higher education almost 400%.
—Jennifer Tescher, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Some of the perks of working at Dollywood include 100% free tuition through the park’s Herschend’s GROW U program, a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, a portion of childcare costs covered and leadership development opportunities.
—Devarrick Turner, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for childcare
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
That money goes to childcare, healthcare, food, clothes, education, transportation, activities, toys, and a lot more.
—NPR, 17 Apr. 2025
Consider this: between 1990 and 2019, the median family’s income grew 140%, but the cost of prescription drugs grew about 175%, childcare more than 200%, and higher education almost 400%.
—Jennifer Tescher, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Some of the perks of working at Dollywood include 100% free tuition through the park’s Herschend’s GROW U program, a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, a portion of childcare costs covered and leadership development opportunities.
—Devarrick Turner, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for childcare
Cite this Entry
“Childcare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childcare. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share